Forever Together Chapter 26: I Turn To You, an one tree hill fanfic

Author's note: The lyrics used in this chapter are from the Christina Aquilera song I Turn To You. I thought about what song go use in this chapter for a really long time, I really wanted it to capture the essence of Nathan and Haley's relationship, but I also needed it to be a song that could be chosen for a prom song. Thinking back to my high school years, they were always songs that were by pop stars, so I figured that this song should work in both way. Enjoy!

Chapter 26- I Turn To You

"Zip me up Peyton?" Haley asked as she walked towards her curly haired friend.

Haley, Peyton and Brooke had been getting ready at Peyton's for the last hour or so. The boys and the limo would be there shortly. The girls had gone all out for their prom. They had a full day at the spa earlier, facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures. They had had a blast together, and gotten some much needed relaxation time.

Peyton walked up behind Haley and zipped her all the way up and then turned her around. "Look at you Hales, you look amazing."

"Yeah you do, Nathan's gonna pop a big one when he sees you." Brooke winked at Haley.

"Brooke, that's terrible." Haley gave Brooke a mischievous smile, "Terrible, but, I do hope you're right."

Brooke walked over towards Peyton, "Look at you ya fake goldilocks, you look pretty hot yourself." Peyton had chosen a black dress, it was strapless and went into a full skirt that ended just above her knees.

"Thanks Brooke. Too bad I don't have a boyfriend to 'pop a big one' over me." Peyton teased.

"Oh don't worry, just because Brian isn't your boyfriend doesn't mean he won't get all hot and bothered when he sees you."

Peyton had decided to take one of her friends from work. Brian was a good guy, Peyton and him got along great so she knew that they would have blast together.

Haley backed away from the mirror to take her entire image in. She had finally decided on a pale purple satin dress. It had spaghetti straps that criss crossed down her back. Besides the straps, there was little material covering her back. The dress was floor length and clung to each and every one of Haley's curves. She had to applaud herself, she did look good. Best of all, she knew that Nathan would love it.

Brooke clapped her hands together when she heard the front door open downstairs.

"Brooke, are you up there?"

"Jeez, doesn't anyone knock around here anymore?" Peyton asked jokingly.

Lucas had learned quickly, there was no need to knock at Peyton's, if he did no one heard it anyways.

"I'll be right down…boyfriend." Brooke yelled down the stairs, she then turned back to Brooke and Haley, "Oh how I love the sound of that."

With that, Brooke was out the door heading down the stairs. As soon as Lucas saw her his jaw dropped. She looked absolutely amazing in a long red dress. Brooke had known that this was the dress for her as soon as she saw it. Not only did she look hot in red, but the intricate rhinestone pattern along the bottom of the dress made it special, not to mention the slit that went nearly all the way up her left leg made the dress look hot. She had hoped for this kind of reaction out of Lucas.

"I'll take by the jaw on the floor, that you like?" Brook asked as she turned around so he could inspect all of her.

"Uh huh." Lucas could barely mutter. There was no denying it, his girlfriend was about as hot as they got.

"You're lookin' pretty good yourself." Brooke said as she headed into the kitchen to get the boutonnière out of the fridge.

As Brooke went back into the front hallway she saw Nathan walked up Peyton's front steps. "Haley, your prince charming is here." Brooked yelled up the stairs.

A few minutes later Haley started down the stairs. As soon as Nathan saw her he couldn't find his words. She looked like a princess. He couldn't believe he was so lucky as to get to walk into any room with her on his arm.

"Say something Nathan, you're freaking me out." Haley teased as she walked towards Nathan, she raised up on tip toe and kissed Nathan lightly on the lips.

"Wow." Nathan just stood there, taking it all in.

Moments later Peyton headed down the stairs, just as Brian walked into the house.

"Peyton, you look great."

"Thanks Brian, so do you."

The six friends pinned on their boutonnieres and the boys slid the corsages on the girls' wrists. Just as they were finishing, the limo pulled up in front of the house.

With the help of Nathan's father, they had secured a Hummer limo. It was just as amazing as Nathan had promised.

As they all climbed in they were amazed at the sheer size of it. They all piled in and Nathan handed out a glass to everyone. He then popped open a bottle of sparking grape juice and poured it into everyone's glasses.

"Sorry I couldn't spring for champagne guys, my dad's still kind of weird about the whole arrest thing."

"Grape juice works for me." Brooke said as she held up her glass, "To a night that we will always remember."

The friend clinked their glasses together and drank their juice.

Brooke stood up and slid open the moon roof, sticking her head out of it. Peyton and Haley joined just as the limo pulled out into the street. Haley knew, right then, that this night was going to be everything she had hoped for.

ooooOoooo

When I'm lost in the rain,
In your eyes I know I'll find the light
To light my way.
And when I'm scared,
And losing ground,
When my world is going crazy,
You can turn it all around.

"This been the most incredible night Hales." Nathan whispered into Haley's ear as they danced closely to the prom song, I Turn To You.

"I'm glad. I wanted it to be perfect."

"Haley, anything with you is perfect."

And when I'm down you're there
- pushing me to the top.
You're always there,
giving me all you've got.

Nathan looked down at Haley, as he started to speak she looked up into his eyes, "You have been a godsend this year Hales, really, I don't think that I could've gotten through everything that happened if it hadn't been for you always standing by my side."

"I'll always be right by your side Nathan, I promise you that."

For a shield from the storm,
For a friend, for a love
to keep me safe and warm
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong,
For the will to carry on
For everything you do,
for everything that's true
I turn to you.

"I get scared Haley, about next year, with us being so far apart I mean."

Haley felt tears spring to her eyes as they always did when he and Nathan discussed the future. He had decided to go to Syracuse, he thought that that was the best move for him and Haley supported that. She supported it, but didn't look forward to it. She and Nathan hadn't decided what was going to happen when he left, but she was quite sure they wouldn't stay together. It was just too great a distance.

"There isn't anything to be scared about. I'll always be a phone call a way, no matter what. Even if we decide that not being together is what's best, I'll still be there for you. It'll take more than moving to New York to get rid of me Scott."

When I lose the will to win,
I just reach for you and
I can reach the sky again.
I can do anything
'Cause your love is so amazing,
'Cause your love inspires me.
And when I need a friend,
You're always on my side
Giving me faith
taking me through the night

"About that Hales. I know how much I love you now, so much that sometimes it hurts. The thought of losing you, it's too much to deal with. I just think, if I feel like this now, how will I feel after the summer, when we spend even more time together? How will I be able to walk away from this, from us?"

Haley could see tears forming in Nathan's eyes. That sight was enough to push her to the breaking point, she couldn't hold her tears in anymore.

"I know what I said before, but, if you don't want to walk away from this, then I don't either. If you think that we can do it, let's do it. We'll stay together. I don't care how far away you'll be. We have to really want that though Nathan, it won't be easy. Especially for you, you're going to walking into new experiences. A whole new world. What if I'm not enough for you?"

"That's impossible Haley, how could someone that means the world to me not be enough?"

"But what if love isn't enough? What if it isn't enough to keep us together? That's what scares me Nathan, that loving you as much as I do won't be enough."

Nathan took Haley's hand and held it up to his heart, "Do you feel that Hales? My heart, it's racing. That's what it always does when I'm around you. No one else does that to me, no one else can make my heart do this. That tells me that what we have is real. My love for you is something I feel so deeply that it actually moves my heart to beat faster. That love, that real love, it'll be enough, I promise you."

Haley rested her head back into Nathan's chest, as they danced to the music she could feel his heart racing to the same tempo as hers. Their love was real, they had their hearts to prove it. Anything else, it didn't matter.

For the arms to be my shelter
through all the rain,
For truth that will never change,
For someone to lean on,
For a heart I can rely on through anything,
For that one who I can run to...
For a shield from the storm,
For a friend, for a love
to keep me safe and warm
I turn to you
For the strength to be strong,
For the will to carry on
For everything you do,
for everything that's true
I turn to you.