6

Peyton stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her head and another one around her body. She stepped into her room and hit the button on her answering machine to stop the annoying blinking that told her she had a message.

"Hey Peyton, it's me ... Nathan that is. I guess I just wanted to say hi, and that I just really wanted to thank you. For everything, with Haley and just for being such a great friend. Catch ya later. And uh ... maybe give me a call if you aren't doing anything tonight. Bye"

"Nathan... what are you doing to me?" she asked aloud. The whole time they were dating he'd never called her just to say hi. It was always asking her for a ride to a party or for a piece of ass. "She really did a number on you Nate, she really did."

Almost absentmindedly she drew over the lines she'd already drawn, slightly bobbing her head to the music she'd turned up full blast. The sketch she'd drawn was of her and Nathan sleeping under the tree at the river court. Under it she'd written the lyrics to the Stereophonics song Dakota " you made me feel like the one". Smiling, she kept outlining things, trying to make it perfect. She was so absorbed in her drawing she didn't even lookup as Nathan stood at her door watching her.

"Knock, Knock," he said as he knocked on her door frame. "you uh didn't answer your door again, so I hope you don't mind, I just came up on my own."

"Uh, no, no, don't worry about it, I shouldn't have my 'crappy' music so loud I can't hear the door." quickly she stowed her sketch away under the covers of her bed.

"Hey, Peyton, you're music's not crappy." Nathan contradicted her.

"That's what you used to always say about it though Nathan. What's changed now?" Why do I always do this! She thought. Why do I always push people away.?

"I've changed Peyton," he said simply, "I'm not your jackass of a boyfriend anymore." Nathan paused before continuing. "That's actually kinda why I came here today."

Peyton shot him a confused look. Her heart had leaped to her throat and then dropped to the floor and back again all in the span of about ten seconds.

"What do you mean Nate?" she choked. Nathan came over and sat beside her on her bed. He looked at her and took her hands in his before continuing.

"I... this isn't easy for me Peyton," he said, "especially given how I treated you in the past. And I'd totally understand if you say no, or something. But I guess what I really came here to ask you... is for a second chance. I want us to be us again." and then he stopped, and didn't say another word. He looked at her and then slowly leaned in. When she didn't back away from him he pushed forward and kissed her. Peyton's heart leaped through the roof this time as she kissed him back. But as her heart came down again she stopped and pulled back.

"Peyton, I'm sorry... I shouldn't... I mean, I thought you wanted..." he tried to apologize.

"No, Nate, I do, that's the thing. I... this is so hard for me too. But I can't be with you until I'm sure you're over Haley. I just... I can't break my heart again."

"I am over Haley, Peyton, I..." he started.

"No, Nathan, you're not. I've seen the look in your eyes when someone mentions her name. I know you still have feelings for her, and that's OK Nathan, it really is, it's just I can't let myself get involved with you again until I can be sure you're not gonna go running back to her if she shows up in Tree Hill again." It broke her heart to say it, but she had to be sure. "Because Nathan, I like you, I like you a lot. But I just... I can't let my heart get broken again." she hung her head. "I'm sorry Nate."

Nathan , sat there for a moment, processing the information. He stood up, and kissed Peyton on the forehead, and started towards the door.

"I'll prove it to you Peyton. I want to be with you." and then he close the door to her bedroom, and she lay on her bed and cried, and cried and cried.