Author's note: Flashback sequences are written in italics. Thanks for the reviews, all of your questions should be answered in this chapter…enjoy…and review!

Chapter 17- Remembering

"Haley, it's me."

The tone in Nathan's voice was one she hadn't ever heard before. He sounded miserable. "What's going on Nathan? I've been so worried about you."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I couldn't call." Nathan paused for a minute, "I got arrested this morning Haley. For drug dealing."

"Oh Nathan. How bad is it?"

"Four felonies and a misdemeanor."

"Wow, that is bad." Haley couldn't believe her ears. "What happens now?" Haley heard some racket in the background, as though Nathan had covered the mouth piece with his hand.

"Sorry Haley, I have to go. My arraignment is in like 10 minutes so I have to meet with my lawyer. But I'll explain everything tomorrow. My dad made bail so I'll be at school and everything. I'll pick you up, just like always, I promise you that. I love you Haley."

Haley stood there listening to the dial tone in her ear. She couldn't believe what he said. She couldn't even believe it. Nathan, arrested, in jail, it was too much to handle.

Lying back on her bed she knew all she could do was wait until tomorrow. That and hope and pray that her parents didn't find out.

ooooOoooo

The next morning Haley was brushing her teeth when the phone rang. Her heart literally stopped beating, she worried it would be Nathan with more bad news. She ran for the phone, before she could even say anything an angry voice started in.

"Haley Elizabeth James you have some explaining to do."

Haley's heart leapt into her throat, her mom couldn't possibly know, could she? "Mom, what's going on?" Haley asked, trying to sound clueless.

"Well, I was sitting in the break room with the girls, enjoying my morning coffee. We're all watching the news when a picture of Nathan pops up on the screen. Now this wasn't just any picture Haley, this was a mug shot! It seems that that little boyfriend of yours has been arrested for drug dealing."

"Mom…"

Haley's mom interrupted her daughter, "Don't say a word. I don't know if you knew about this and chose not to tell me and your father, or if you have no idea, but you don't sound too shocked to me so I am guessing it is the former. Now listen to me Haley, you will come straight home from school today, your father and I will be waiting for you. I expect you in the door not a minute after 2:30." With that Haley's mom hung up.

Haley knew she was in for it. Her parents were really big on keeping the communication lines open. Truth be told, Haley had never even considered telling her parents this one, never in a million years. They never would have let her keep seeing him. They probably wouldn't now.

Fighting back tears Haley headed downstairs, hearing Nathan's blazer pull into her driveway she grabbed her books and headed out the door.

As soon as she opened the door the saw Nathan walking towards her. He pulled her into a hug and they both started to cry.

Nathan had never cried in front of anyone before, not even his mother, and now here he was crying in front of Haley. He couldn't believe it, hell, he couldn't believe anything that had happened the day before.

Nathan hit eject on the CD player, pulling out his 50 cent CD he slid in a Dave Matthews Band CD, one of Haley's favorites. As he leaned back he saw that the car was still behind him. This car had been following him since he pulled out his neighborhood. Figuring it was just someone else on their way to school he ignored it, trying to shake the feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was wrong.

It wasn't until the police cars flew up behind Nathan that the car that had been following him veered into another lane. Nathan looked down at his speedometer, wondering what was happening. He wasn't speeding, he had stopped at every stop sign, he hadn't even run through any yellow lights.

'Maybe they aren't pulling me over.' Nathan tried to convince himself as he made his way to the shoulder of the road.

As soon as he put his car into park two police officers ran up to his car. One reached out and swung open Nathan's door.

Not knowing what else to do, Nathan reached down and unhooked his seatbelt. As he did this the police officer pulled him from his seat and threw him up against the side of the car.

As the cop pulled Nathan's arms behind him, handcuffing him, he said, "Nathan Scott, we have a warrant for your arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney, should you not be able to afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand your rights as I have explained them to you?"

"Yes." It was all Nathan could mutter. He couldn't even ask questions.

The cop guided Nathan back towards his police car. As Nathan sat down in the back he saw the other police officer get into Nathan's car and drive it away.

Nathan sat there, the whole way to the police station, wondering what this was about. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but deep down he knew, his past was finally catching up with him.

Arriving at the police station Nathan was led inside where he was fingerprinted and strip searched. The strip search was by far the most degrading moment of Nathan's life.. He had to take off all of his clothes and stand there as a police officer did a full body cavity search of Nathan. He knew that they were looking for drugs. He had head stories of people hiding them in the craziest places. All Nathan could do was let his mind go somewhere else.

Of course his mind went to Haley. "My girlfriend, I have to call my girlfriend. She must be freaking out, I should have picked her up forever ago. Can I call my girlfriend?" Nathan pleaded with the officer.

"You will get one phone call after you are booked. One, that's it, use it wisely."

Nathan stared at the floor, he knew that he had to call his dad but all he could think about was Haley and how she must feel. She had to be so worried. God, how did he screw up like this? Things were going so good for him, he was finally getting out of everything, he was changing his life for Haley. Now what would happen to them?

Finally Nathan was taken to a phone, picking it up he dialed the all too familiar number.

"Scott Motors, how can I direct your call?" The cheeriness in the receptionist's voice made Nathan want to throw the phone against the wall.

"Is Dan Scott available? This is his son, Nathan."

"No I'm sorry, he is in a meeting. Can I take a message?"

"This is an emergency, would you please get him?" Nathan heard her put the phone on hold. Minutes later his father answered.

"Son, what's going on?" Dan sounded concerned, it wasn't like Nathan to pull him out of a meeting.

"I'm in jail Dad. I need you to come and get me."

Haley pulled away from Nathan and looked into his tear filled eyes, "This is going to be okay Nathan, we are going to be okay. Just tell me, how did this happen?"

Nathan was sitting in the questioning room with two detectives, Nathan's father, and his father's lawyer, they all sat around a big table as one detective started to speak.

"We have been following you for months Nathan, watching your every move. This is serious. We have solid evidence that proves you have been selling drugs over at least the past few months."

"What is this evidence?" Nathan's lawyer, Jim Shapiro, asked.

As soon as he broached the question the door opened. Looking up Nathan's head began to spin.

"Paul?" Nathan couldn't believe it. Paul, one of his clients, the freshman at the near by college, was standing in front of him in a police uniform.

"We got a tip months ago as to who the players were in the drug ring circling Tree Hill High School. Since that time Paul here has been working undercover as a college student, a college student, and one of Nathan's clients."

Nathan's jaw nearly hit the floor. He couldn't believe it. He had started doing business with Paul through one of Nathan's friends, Terry. How could Terry have set him up like this? Why would Terry set him up like this?

All Nathan could do was put his head on the table. It took all he had to not cry, that was the last thing he wanted to do though. Cry in front of all of these detectives and his father, and his lawyer.

Nathan braced himself, knowing that nothing, not even his father's money, would make this go away.

"It's a long story Haley." Nathan looked at his watch, the watch that Haley had given him just weeks ago, just a few weeks ago when his life had been seemingly perfect. "There isn't time now Haley, we have to get to school."

"We can talk later Nathan, I have a quiz in first and second period, but what if we skip third and go talk somewhere?"

"Okay, I will meet you at your locker before third." Nathan started towards his car but then turned back to Haley. "It's okay Hales, if you want to break up with me. After all, I deserve it, I don't deserve you, not after all this."