7

Three month later...

Peyton and Nathan hadn't seen much of each other since his confession of his feelings for her. She'd been avoiding him on purpose. Easier to protect her heart that way. Besides some smiles at each other at school and some awkward small talk, they hadn't talked much since that day.

The words were hard for him to find. They were all up there but how could he put them down on a piece of paper? How could he write down what she had meant to him? To put into words what they had shared, was harder for him than anything he'd ever done before.

Haley,

I know this is a long time coming but I have to start somewhere...

It hurt him. But it wasn't the stabbing pain he thought he'd feel, because there was a new light for him. A light at the end of the tunnel. Peyton.

As soon as he finished. He pushed his chair back and let out a sigh. Finally. It was over. Nathan got up and headed to Peyton's house. When he got there however the door was locked and no one answered the doorbell. Not knowing what else to do he sat down on her doorstep with his head in his hands.

She came up the street laughing and giggling. Talking to Jarred as he walked her home. She didn't see Nathan, but he seen her. All of her. As she let Jarred kiss her goodnight and as she blushed when she turned around to walk up her driveway. She stopped short when she seen him sitting there looking hurt and betrayed.

"Nathan!" she said, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Truth be told she was a bit unnerved by the expression on his face. The only girl he'd ever been emotional over was Haley.

"Never mind." he said. She could hear the hurt in his voice. "It doesn't matter anymore." And he rushed past her and ran into the night.

"Nathan! Come back her! Don't you run away from me!" But it was no use. He didn't even look back once. She sighed and leaned against her door. For once in her life she had no idea what to do. And then she did. She dropped her purse on the doorstep and took off after Nathan.

She ran at a fast clip, following him as he cut through people's backyards and down back lanes.

Peyton found him sitting in the sand staring at the crashing waves on the beach. He held a small purple and white flower between his fingers, gently twirling it around.

"Nathan?" she said cautiously. "You OK? You just took off, I didn't know what to do."

"You shouldn't have followed me, that's what you shoulda done." he said angrily. Standing up quickly he threw the flower to the sand.

" What's got you so riled up?" she asked.

"What the hell do you think your doing? Making out with some guy you barely know? I thought we had something Peyton."

Now she was no longer worried. Now she was angry.

"What?" he voice was like ice. "You did not just say that to me did you? I've waited for you Nathan. For three months. And I got nothing! You gave me nothing! There was no indication that you still wanted what I did. Nothing at all! What was I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for you forever? Until my hair started turning gray or I got wrinkles around my eyes? And what's the big deal? Maybe I want to get to know him."

"Because Peyton," he cut her off. "I don't want anyone else to have a chance to see how amazing you are. I...I came to you tonight because there's something that I wanted you to read before I did what I have to do." He reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out an unsealed envelope. Peyton looked at it suspiciously before taking it into her hands and opening it. She read the first few lines and dropped to the beach.

Hayley,

I know this is a long time coming but I have to start somewhere. I got your letter. And as much as it kills me to say this I think you're right. It was a mistake. We were so young when we got married, I think we need to experience life on our own. I do love you Haley. But not as my wife anymore. You broke my heart when you left and I can't forgive you for that. But with time we could be friends again. But until then I can't see you anymore.

Nathan.

Peyton put the letter in her lap. She was shocked. This she was not expecting when she followed Nathan to the beach.

"I'm so sorry Nate." she pulled him into a hug. "I'm so sorry."