Author's note: Thanks so much for the reviews, they were the most I have gotten for any one chapter. I really poured myself into that chapter, and it seems it worked, I'm glad that you guys liked it. This story has a quite a few different arcs (for lack of a better word), that was the end of the first one, now starts a different arc for Naley, being apart. Just something to note, I have mentioned before in the story that Haley, Brooke and Peyton knew each other from dance. Dance is an important part of Haley's life in this story, just as singing is in OTH, but I promise, Haley will never leave Nathan for dancing. I just needed to give her some kind of outlet, and I didn't want to use singing so I tried for something new. Enjoy!

Chapter 28- Emptiness

As Haley pulled herself from the edge of sleep, she could feel the sunlight making it's way through the cracks in the blinds covering her window. Normally the feeling of the sunlight on her would warm her, but this morning it did no such thing.

Gazing over at the alarm clock, Haley was surprised to see that it said 11. She had been up most of the night crying, finally finding sleep around 6 am. It had been a fitful slumber, but sleep nonetheless.

Haley laid in bed thinking about what the day ahead held for her. She had promised Brooke and Peyton she would go shopping with them, and then the girls had dance class that evening. Normally a shopping trip with her best friends would help urge Haley out of bed, but today, even that wasn't motivation enough.

Nathan had been gone for three days now. Three whole days and Haley felt as though she had cried for most of those days. Everything she did made her think of Nathan, and thinking of Nathan gave her an overwhelmingly empty feeling. No matter what she tried to do, she couldn't escape that feeling. She felt as though she was a shell of a person, she felt as though her heart had left her body, as though her heart was now in Syracuse and no matter what she did, she couldn't get it back.

Haley's parents were concerned for their daughter, they had never seen her so upset. They had tried everything, taking her out to her favorite restaurant, giving her money for new school clothes, letting her use their car whenever she had asked, but none of it worked. None of it elicited a smile from their daughter. Haley was one to wear her heart on her sleeve, and now, she was wearing her pain there as well.

Haley rolled over and closed her eyes tightly, willing sleep to take over again. It was only when she slept that she couldn't feel this pain. Haley had been afraid, the first night that Nathan was gone, that her pain would follow her into her dreams. This wasn't the case though, as Haley hadn't dreamt once since Nathan had gone. Not only had he taken her heart, but Haley also felt as though he taken her dreams.

Haley heard footsteps approaching her door. She prayed that it wasn't one of her parents, coming in to try and cheer her up again. She appreciated the gestures, but it wasn't working. Haley just wanted to be alone.

Haley heard a soft knock on her door, and then her mother peered in.

"There's mail for you Haley. It's a letter, from Nathan."

Haley sat herself up in bed and a smile spread across her face. Haley had spoken to Nathan briefly the night he arrived at school, but he had to get settled in and she knew that so their conversation had been only a few minutes long. She had not spoken to him since. They had agreed that they would not talk everyday, if they did that they would never learn to let go enough to live their own lives.

Haley's mother brought the letter over to her daughter and turned and left the room, she knew that Haley would want to be alone.

Haley smiled at the familiar handwriting on the outside of the envelope. It warmed her whole body just to see that. Taking a deep breath she tore the envelope open and pulled out the paper that lay inside.

As Haley opened the folded paper she lay back against her pillow, allowing herself to become complete engulfed in Nathan's words:

Hales,

I'm not even halfway to school yet, and I already miss you more than I ever thought possible. Driving away from you this morning was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. I wanted to turn around so many times, turn around and go back to you and hold you in my arms forever. I don't know how I stopped myself, but I did. Maybe it was the thought that this was for the best, that we need to follow our own dreams, do what is best for ourselves, that is the only way that we can truly give ourselves over to one another completely someday. I don't know how much I believe that yet Hales, but I keep trying to convince myself.

About an hour outside of Tree Hill I'll Be came on the radio. The opening notes of it brought tears to my eyes, but then I thought of you, standing there in front of me telling me that we belong together. That image of you, remembering you speaking those words to me, it brought a sudden feeling of calm over me. I knew that if I could hold onto those memories of you, and pull them out when I needed them, then I could get through this.

I want you to find a way to get through this Hales. I know that you have probably spent these past days crying incessantly, and trust me baby I feel your pain. But, I don't want that Hales, I don't want you to be sad like that. I want you to continue on with your life. I want you to spend time with Brooke and Peyton, spend time with Lucas. I want you to dive right back into school, into tutoring.

I know that these things might not be enough to calm your soul and allow your heart to start aching. These past few hours, while I've been driving, I've been thinking about what can be your rescue from this heartache. Mine are our memories, I can feel them so strongly that it is almost as though you're sitting right here next to me, holding my hand and telling me that everything's going to be all right. I can lose myself in the memories and escape the pain. I know that that might not be the best way for you to feel better though, but I think I came up with something.

I remembered that poster in your room, the one with the ballerina and this quote along the bottom;

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching. Live each day as though it's your last."

That made me realize Hales, let dance be your escape. Pour your heart and soul into it Hales, lose yourself in it. I've seen you do that, I've seen how the music and the movements take you over. So let that happen, let that be your escape from the pain.

Dance for me Hales, dance for us, but most importantly, dance for yourself.

Love always and forever,

Nathan

Tears filled Haley's eyes as she read his words. He was absolutely incredible. Nathan loved her so much that he had searched for a way for her to deal with the pain. Even more incredible than his search, was what Nathan found. Nathan found what might be the only escape for Haley.

There were only two things in life that made Haley feel free, Nathan and dancing. It only made sense that when she ached so badly for one that she should lose herself in the other.

Haley climbed out of bed and headed for the shower, feeling as though she had a new lease on life. She could do this, she just had to find her strength in new found ways.

ooooOoooo

Nathan walked into his dorm room and breathed a sigh of relief that his roommate wasn't there. He was a great guy, and Nathan knew that they would get along just fine, but right now Nathan needed to be alone.

Nathan had been walking back to the dorm after class and there had been this girl walking in front of him who he thought looked just like Haley. The way she moved, her long hair tumbling half way down her back, the resemblance from the angle was uncanny. Nathan had shut his eyes and taken a deep breath, knowing that when he opened his eyes he would realize that that girl wasn't Haley, and he was right. When he opened his eyes it was clear that the girl in front of him was not Haley.

As he lay down on his bed Nathan was overcome with a feeling of emptiness. This feeling had become all too familiar over the last few days. Shutting his eyes, he willed himself to find a memory to calm himself.

Flashback

Nathan was walking through the back room of the store, waiting for Haley to finish changing in the bathroom so they could leave. It was Christmas Eve and although working sucked, at least they were doing it together. Nathan now had to drive Haley over to her Aunt's house where the rest of her family was and then he could head home to enjoy dinner with his family.

"Hales, did you fall in or something?" Nathan said as he cracked open the door.

"I'll be out in a minute, I'm just changing. You try putting on pantyhose!" Haley yelled from inside.

Nathan leaned back against the wall, knowing all he could do was wait.

Finally, Haley emerged from the bathroom. She looked gorgeous in a red off the shoulder top and black knee length skirt. Nathan smiled as she walked towards him.

Much to his surprise, Haley pushed him up against the wall behind him and began to kiss him passionately. Nathan couldn't believe it, he and Haley had agreed to keep their relationship as under wraps as possible while they were at work.

After a few minutes of passionate kisses, Haley pulled away and looked up at Nathan smiling, "I've always wanted to do that here."

With that Haley turned and headed for the door, realizing Nathan wasn't behind her she turned around, "You coming?"

Nathan nodded, and began walking quickly to catch up to Haley, hoping that the cold air on the other side of the door would do the same as a cold shower in the way of quelling the excitement that Haley had just brought on him.

End flashback.

Nathan smiled at the memory of that day. That was before all the drama had happened, before his arrest, before her parents restricting the time they spent together.

Nathan could feel the memory so strongly that he could almost feel Haley's lips on his, he could feel his excitement stirring at the thought of the softness of her lips.

Rolling over Nathan closed his eyes, willing sleep to wash over him to he could dream of Haley, dream of being with Haley, where everything made sense and this feeling of extreme emptiness didn't exist.

ooooOoooo

"Great class girls, I'll see you tomorrow. Haley, can I see you for a minute?" Haley's dance teacher asked as the girls began to file from the room.

Looking towards Brooke, Haley shrugged her shoulders, she didn't know what was going on.

Brooke mouthed to her, 'It's okay, I'll wait for you.'

Haley headed over to her teacher, "Miss Susan, is everything okay?"

"Yes Haley. I just wanted to talk to you quickly about your senior solo, you're the only senior who hasn't yet chosen a song. Did you have anything in mind?"

Haley slowly nodded, hoping that she would be able to come up with the perfect song in the next few seconds.

Haley then remembered Nathan's words earlier, that she should use dance as her escape from the pain. That she should put her heart and soul into her movements, letting them and the music wash over her and allow her to forget her pain.

Then she knew, knew what the perfect song was. She knew it was the only song that she would be able to really let herself go.

"Well Haley, what song?"

"I'll Be, by Edwin McCain. That's my senior solo."