Author's note: Hey guys, thanks to everyone who reads. The reviews have dropped off these last few chapters, I was kind of surprised because I thought people would react to all this Naley drama. Let me know what you guys think, good or bad!

Chapter 36- Walk Away

Haley walked quickly down the street. Somehow she had managed to stop crying, and she was trying with everything she had to keep her emotions in check until she got to Brooke's house.

After walking for what seemed like miles, Haley finally reached the outside door to Brooke's bedroom. Turning the doorknob, she stormed right in. Brooke was sitting on the bed waiting for her. As soon as she saw Haley she pulled her into a hug and Haley let it all go.

Brooke led Haley over to the bed and the two sat there, Brooke hugging Haley as she cried for the better part of an hour. Brooke knew that Haley had to talk about it, but it was clear she wasn't ready yet.

At one point Haley's sobs slowed and she seemed to gain some composure. She pulled back slowly from Brooke and just looked at her.

"It was awful Brooke. I hurt him so bad. He was so upset."

"Okay, start from the beginning and tell me what happened."

Haley nodded and started from the beginning. Brooke listened intently, offering support when she thought Haley needed it.

Finally Haley took a deep breath, "And then that was it, I just walked away after that."

"Wow. It does sound intense. I think you handled it fine though. You were totally honest, that's the important part."

"It just hurt so much Brooke. I didn't expect that. I thought I was ready for it."

"You're never ready to say good bye to your first love." Brooke paused for a moment, "So you're going to talk tomorrow?"

"I hope so. I think Nathan just needs some time to think about what I said, and then we can talk about it. I mean tonight it was just him freaking out and rapid firing questions at me, it almost seemed like he thought he could change my mind. I'm hoping that once he thinks about it he'll realize that he can't and then he can begin to accept it. I don't know, I guess we'll see."

Brooke just nodded sympathetically, she felt as though there wasn't anything else she could do for Haley.

"Okay Brooke, take my mind off of this. Let's talk about something else. How're things with Lucas?"

"You really want to hear about that now?"

"Yeah, hearing about how happy the two of you are will make me feel better, I promise. This is what I need."

"Okay, well, things are great actually. I'm still not sick of him. I mean, we're a little freaked out with school next year, but we haven't really decided what's going to happen with that, neither of us has settled on where we want to go."

"Oh Brooke, you really need to figure that out."

"Hmmm Hales, seems like you're just fine to me, acting like my mom as usual."

The girls looked at one another and laughed. She was right, this was what Haley needed.

Brooke called Peyton over and the three girls had an old fashioned sleep over. After Haley filled Peyton in on everything that had happened, the girls vowed to talk about anything but the break up for the rest of the night.

Haley fell asleep easily for the first time in weeks that night. There was just something about having her two best friends right by her side that always helped her rest easy.

ooooOoooo

Haley was sitting on a bench down by the water waiting for Nathan. He had left her a text message asking her to meet him. Haley had gotten there early in hopes of getting some time to herself to process everything that had been said between the two of them the night before.

"Haley, hi."

Haley turned around and saw Nathan walking towards her.

"Hi Nathan."

Haley scooted over on the bench allowing Nathan room to sit beside her.

"I did a lot of thinking last night Haley."

Haley just waited, knowing that he had to be the one to talk today, seeing as how she'd done most of it last night.

"It took me a lot of thinking before I began to see what you were saying. We are so young, and things have been so serious with us. I do understand that we both have a lot of growing up to do. And I'm sorry, if I said anything mean yesterday I was just hurt and angry you know?"

"I know. I just needed to be honest with you, and the only way I could do that was by telling you everything." Haley turned towards Nathan who still had not attempted to make eye contact. "Nathan look at me."

Nathan tilted his face up towards Haley slowly. Haley did not speak until their eyes met.

"The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you Nathan, but by not hurting you I was miserable. You had told me that when I wasn't happy anymore to tell you, and I did."

"I know. And with all honesty, I wasn't that surprised to hear it, I knew things weren't going well. But, knowing it was coming didn't make it any easier. I just don't know what I'll do without you Haley."

"I feel the same way about you. We'll figure it out though."

Haley turned away from Nathan and looked down towards the ground. Nathan followed suit and they sat beside one another in silence.

"I'm not staying in Tree Hill for the summer," Nathan suddenly announced.

"What?" Haley looked at Nathan, confused.

"I'm going to stay with Tony, from school, in Maryland for the summer. I just can't be here Haley. I can't risk running into you somewhere. If I have to keep seeing you I'll never get over this."

"So you're just going to up and leave? God Nathan, that's not what I want. I don't want you out of my life, you have to know that. I want us to be friends."

"I can't be just friends with you right now Haley, it hurts too much. Every time I see you I want to pull you into my arms and kiss you. I want to make this all better but I can't. Seeing you will just frustrate me. I really think that this is best."

"If it's what you think you have to do then go."

Nathan couldn't believe it, Haley sounded mad. He had known she would be thrilled with the news, but figured that space was the best thing to help them both move past all of this. Nathan was shocked when Haley suddenly jumped off the bench and stood before him.

"If you want to run away then fine, do it. But don't come crawling back when you miss having me in your life. We could have been friends Nathan, the pain would have healed and we could have been friends. But what now? I'll never see you again? You'll be in Maryland all summer and then back at school. So what? I'll see you next May? Or wait, maybe not until you graduate. That sounds like a great plan."

Nathan could feel the anger rising in him as Haley stood there yelling at him. He knew that she was hurt and not really angry, but that didn't decrease his level of frustration towards her.

"You brought this on yourself Haley." Nathan began as he rose of the bench to face her, his voice rising along with his anger, "You called it off, not me. This is just what I need to do to deal."

"Well what about what I need to do to deal?"

"You gave up your right to choose when you broke up with me. Now it's my turn, and this is what I choose."

"Fine, have a nice life." Haley crossed her arms and turned on her heel.

Nathan knew she was about to storm off and he grabbed her by the shoulder, whipping her around.

"No, you don't get to walk away today. You did that last night and all I could do was stand there watching you. So you know what? I get to walk away first today and you can stand and watch, after all, I'm walking away because of what you want, because of what you think is best. So goodbye Haley."

Nathan turned and walked away, before Haley had a chance to object. And in that moment Haley understood what Nathan must have felt the night before when she left him standing there as she walked away, sheer and utter helplessness.