Author's note: The lyrics used in this chapter are I'll Stand By You, by the Pretenders.
Chapter 18- I'll Stand By You
Nathan and Haley were sitting together in one of the practice rooms in the music wing of Tree Hill High. Haley knew it was one of the few places that no one would hear what they were talking about as the chorus was practicing right outside of the room. Everyone already knew enough of their business, she didn't want them to know anymore.
Nathan hadn't told Haley much about what had happened. Just the logistics, the court dates, and what the lawyer said might happen. The rest was too painful, he couldn't talk about it yet. It was still all too fresh.
Haley understood that, without Nathan saying it she understood that he wasn't ready to talk about it all. She just needed him to know that she was there when he was ready.
As Nathan and Haley sat there, just looking at one another, not knowing what to say, they could hear the first few notes of a familiar song begin.
Nathan reached out to Haley and pulled her into a hug. "I never want to let go Haley, never. Please don't make me let go."
Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now.
Don't be ashamed to cry,
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too.
"Nathan, tell me this, why would you think that I'd want to break up with you? I wouldn't walk away from you now, not when you need me this much. I wouldn't turn my back on you in a time like this."
"But, how could you stay with me Haley? After all this? Look what I did!"
When the night falls on you,
You don't know what to do,
Nothing you confess,
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you.
Won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you.
"How could I stay with you? Because I love you. Because I knew about this. I knew that this could happen and I still stayed Nathan, I won't walk away now. We'll get through this Nathan, together, we'll get through it." Haley looked Nathan straight in the eyes as she spoke.
Nathan knew that she meant it, every word of it. "I just don't know what to do Haley, this all got so out of hand."
So, if you're mad get mad,
Don't hold it all inside,
Come on talk to me now.
And hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
But I'm a lot like you
"Do whatever's in your heart Nathan. Cry if you need to, yell if you need to. Whatever you need Nathan, I'm here. Just don't shut down on me. Not now, you need to let me be there for you."
When you're standing at the crossroads,
Don't know which path to choose,
Let me come along,
Cause even if your wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Take me into your darkest hour,
And I'll never desert you.
I'll stand by you.
"Ho did I get so lucky Hales, how did I get so lucky as to have you in my life? I really don't deserve you."
"Don't keep saying that Nathan. You do deserve me. Sometimes it's me who thinks I don't deserve you." Haley felt a tear running down her cheek, Nathan reached out and brushed it away.
"You saved me Haley, you really did, this would be much worse if it wasn't for you.
And when, when the night fall on you baby,
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
"What do you mean Nathan, how did I save you? I know that you were getting out, getting out for me, but a lot of good that did." Haley felt terrible about that, maybe if she had put up a fight months ago, Nathan might have gotten out sooner and they wouldn't be sitting here right now.
"This would have been a lot worst if it weren't for you Hales. I was selling to an undercover cop, that's how this all happened."
"Is he anyone I would know?"
"No, he was pretending to be a student, up at the college. They were planning to arrest me a few weeks ago Haley, the day you had the headache."
Haley clearly remembered it, Nathan was about to take her home because she had a terrible headache, she got them sometimes and they really hit her hard. Nathan could tell that she shouldn't be alone, she was so weak she could barely get herself into her bed, so Nathan stayed with her, sat next to her bed until her mother got home. Haley had known that he had something to do, but he cancelled it for her. He had cancelled it to sit there and watch her sleep, to make sure she was okay.
"You mean…?"
"Yeah, that day. He had asked for some serious stuff Hales, if I had made that sale not only would I have been arrested that day, but they would have had more on me. Much more, I'd be in jail right now. But I'm not, because of you." From the moment Nathan put all the pieces together he knew that it was Haley who had saved him, Haley who had kept him from rotting in jail. His love for Haley had pulled him out of what could have been a really dark place. "Haley, you really are my guardian angel."
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you,
Won't let nobody hurt you.
I'll stand by you
Take me to your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you.