Chapter 5: I Won't Let Nobody Hurt You…I'll Stand By You

Nathan followed an extremely pissed off and upset into her apartment. Brooke and Lucas were sitting on a couch watching a movie and immediately turned around to a door slam.

"What happened?" Brooke asked getting up.

Nathan looked at his sister and shook his head, "We ran into a few people," Nathan said giving his sister and Lucas a look.

Lucas got up and nodded at Nathan, understanding the look Nathan was giving him, "Let's watch the rest of the movie in my apartment…Nate and Haley need to talk."

Brooke nodded and followed Lucas out.

"Haley," Nathan said trying to get Haley to slow down from pacing.

"How the hell can my sister do that to me? My sister!" Haley exclaimed throwing a picture of herself and Taylor across the room.

"Because she's a bitch, Haley…We've always known that," Nathan said trying to get Haley to laugh.

It didn't work.

"But I'm her sister!" Haley screamed throwing her hands up.

"Haley, Taylor's a bitch. That's enough said," Nathan said walking over to Haley.

"But my sister and my boyfriend," Haley said shaking her head.

Nathan nodded and went over to hug Haley, "Thank you for punching him…" Haley mumbled, which caused Nathan to laugh.

"No problem," Nathan said.


"I mean, I didn't love him, I mean…I don't think I was ever in love with him," Haley said, yawning.

"Why don't you go to sleep?" Nathan said, moving to get up from Haley's bed.

"Can you stay with me?" Haley asked.

Nathan nodded and smiled, "Of course."


As Haley closed her eyes, she smiled knowing Nathan was there with her. He'd always been there for her. The six of them has always been friends for as long as she could remember. She remembers when she first met Nathan, and Brooke.

Flashback

"Haley-bub let's go meet the new neighbors," Lydia James said picking up her 4 year old daughter and walking out of the house.

"Hi, I'm Deb," the blonde woman said coming over to Lydia and Haley.

"I'm Lydia, and this is little Haley," Lydia said shifting Haley in her arms.

"Hi, cutie," Deb said to Haley.

Haley smiled shyly, "Hi."

"How old are you?" Deb asked.

"Fowr," Haley said.

"I have a little boy and girl that are 4, too," Deb said, calling over her children.

"Mom! Nathan took my doll!" A four-year old Brooke screamed coming over.

"She took my race-car!" 4-year old Nathan screamed back.

Haley looked at the two twins, and got down off of her mom, "I'm Haley!" she exclaimed, happily.

End Flashback

Haley's Flashbacks

Flashback (15 years old)

"Hi Lydia! Hi Jimmy!" Nathan said running up the stairs to Haley's room.

"Hales! Haley!" Nathan screamed bouncing into Haley's room.

"What?" Haley asked.

"I made the team!" Nathan screamed.

"No!" Haley said.

"YES!" Nathan challenged.

"Nate, that's awesome!" Haley said throwing her arms around Nathan.

"And guess what I picked as my number?" Nathan said to Haley.

"21?" Haley asked.

"No, 23." Nathan answered.

"Okay…" Haley eyed him.

"Not only is it my favorite basketball player's number, but it's my best friends birthday…" Nathan said smiling.

"Nathan!" Haley said giggling, "You're the best!"

"I know…I know," Nathan said arrogantly.

End Flashback

Flashback (16 Years old)

"Hey Haley," a boy, Ryan Jordan said coming over to Haley.

"Oh, hey Ry…" Haley said smiling a little at Ryan, she always thought he was cute.

"What's up?" he asked smiling at her.

"Nothing, really…Just about to go to class," Haley said about to close her locker.

Nathan started walking over and noticed that Ryan kid talking to Haley.

"Oh, well—" Ryan started.

"Hey Hales," Nathan said walking over and cutting off Ryan.

"Hey Nathan…" Haley said laughing to herself and looking questionably at Nathan, "What's up?"

"Nothing, let's go, I have to talk to you…" Nathan said throwing his arm around Haley.

"Okay…" Haley said being dragged along by Nathan and shooting Ryan an apologetic glance behind her.

"What's up Nathan?" Haley asked as they walked.

"Huh, oh..nothing, it's just that guy was hitting on you." Nathan said walking into their next class.

Haley shook her head and smiled as she followed Nathan in the class.

End Flashback

Flashback (16 Years old)

Haley sadly walked right into Nathan's house, knowing his parents never cared if she let herself in.

"Hey Hales," Haley saw Brooke sitting in the living room with Peyton.

"Hey," Haley whispered to her two other best friends, "Where's Nate?"

"In his room," Brooke said.

Haley nodded and walked away.

"Hey Haley," Dan said walking down the stairs as Haley started up them.

"Hey Dan," Haley said trying to be happy.

"Nate's in his room," Dan said.

"Thanks," Haley told him.

Haley walked into Nathan's room without knocking.

"Brooke-I told you to KNOCK—" Nathan stopped as he turned around and saw Haley.

"Haley, what's wrong?" Nathan said walking over to Haley.

"Ryan's an ass." She told him.

"I could've told you that, Hales…what did he do?" Nathan asked.

"He tried to force me to sleep with him," Haley said.

"What!" Nathan said screaming, "Haley, did he- did he-- ?"

"No, Nathan-I stopped him," Haley said, "But…I was scared, Nathan."

Nathan sighed and wrapped his arms around Haley.

"I'm gonna kick his ass, tomorrow Hales," Nathan told her.

End Flashback

Haley thought about the first time she ever realized Nathan was, 'hot'. After years of girls, minus Brooke, telling Haley how lucky she was to have Nathan as a best friend, she realized it the summer before senior year.

Flashback

Nathan had been to a basketball camp, High Fliers, for the whole summer. With exchanged, but short, phone calls from Haley to Nathan, Haley couldn't wait until she saw Nathan again. She wondered if he had changed over the summer. She knew she had. She grew her hair long, and highlighted it blonde. Brooke had just called her to tell her that Nathan had just gotten home and to come as quickly as she could.

Haley threw the door open of the Scott household startling Brooke, Deb and Dan.

"Haley, you act like you haven't been here all summer!" Deb said, smiling knowing the exact reason Haley was bouncing through out the house.

"Sorry, sorry," Haley said running around giving hugs to Deb, Brooke and Dan.

Haley looked at the three of them expectantly, "Where is he?" she exclaimed.

"Upstairs," Brooke said mockingly.

Haley bounced up the stairs as Deb smiled at her husband and daughter,

"You know the two of them are gonna get married."

"Yeah, they totally are," Brooke said agreeing with her mother.

Haley walked right over to Nathan's door and slammed it open, and saw nothing.

"Huh?" Haley asked herself, realizing he must be in the shower.

Haley sat on his bed waiting for him to get out.

"Hey, it's my first day back, and I've already got girls waiting on my bed for me?" a shirtless, wet Nathan said.

"Shut up," Haley said as she got over and hugged Nathan, "I missed you!"

"I missed you, too," Nathan said smiling at Haley, then looking at her up and down, teasing her… "I like the hair, Hales…not the skirt," he said referring to Haley's short mini-skirt.

Haley did the same to Nathan, looking him up and down, and raised an eyebrow, "Have you been working out?"

"Well, you know…" Nathan started, and was cut off with Haley slapping his arm, "Get dressed, I missed my best friend all summer, we're going out!" Haley said running out of his room.

Nathan smiled and shut the door behind her.

"Wow," Haley thought to herself, "He's hot."

End Flashback

Nathan looked at Haley and started thinking about the years of their friendship.

Nathan's Flashbacks

Flashback (18 Years Old)

"So, Haley, how much have you missed me this summer?" Nathan asked, who had just returned from High Fliers Basketball Camp.

"Eh, a little," Haley said smiling.

"So, best friend," Nathan said mocking his younger sister, "What do you have planned for us today?"

Haley paused, "Okay, you're totally going to hate this."

Nathan groaned, "No shopping, Hales."

"I want a tattoo," Haley said suddenly.

Nathan looked at Haley and burst out laughing, "No way."

"Nathan, please. And I want you to get one, too," Haley said.

"Why?" Nathan asked her, laughing.

"I don't know, it's symbolic of our friendship," Haley told him, pouting.

"I'm not getting your name tattooed to me, Haley," Nathan said pointing his finger at Haley.

"No, I don't know…I just…I want a tattoo!" Haley said whining, when suddenly an idea popped into her head.

"I'll get number 23!" Haley shrieked.

"My number?" Nathan said raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, and you can get mine!" Haley shrieked again.

"You don't play sports," Nathan said.

"My cheerleading number," Haley said.

"What the hell, Haley?" Nathan questioned.

"It's number 6," Haley said. "You see…when we started cheerleading, I got the idea, if boys can have jerseys, we can too. We do cheer for them," Haley said explaining herself.

Nathan sighed, "Fine."

"Fine, you'll do it?" Haley asked.

"Yes. Where are you going to get it, Hales?" Nathan asked.

"Right here," Haley said turning around and pointing to her lower back.

Nathan sighed heavily, that was the place where guys loved tattoos to be, and smirked.

"You?" Haley asked.

"I don't know. Where should I?" Nathan asked Haley.

"Here," Haley said pointing to Nathan's right shoulder. "And get 06, two numbers like me!"

End Flashback

Flashback (20 Years old)

Nathan, Lucas, Jake, Peyton, Brooke and Haley were all at a college party. The girls were all pretty wasted, and the guys were sober enough to realize what was going on.

"Where's Haley, man?" Nathan asked Lucas, worried about his best friend who had been missing for almost an hour.

Lucas smiled at his friend, "You're a good friend to her, man. I don't know. Last I saw her, she was…" Lucas stopped when he saw Haley dancing on top of a table and pointed to her.

Nathan turned around and saw Haley on the table, he pushed through the crowd, mostly horny guys, and stopped right in front of Haley, "What the hell are you doing Haley?" Nathan said getting up on the table with her.

"Dancing," Haley said as it was the most obvious thing in the world. Nathan looked around for Peyton and Brooke, silently scolding himself for letting Haley get out of control. Haley was a bad drunk, and he knew it. He caught Peyton making out with Jake in a corner, and couldn't find Brooke.

"Get down," Nathan scolded her.

"No, way, Nathaee," Haley said trying to rhyme, and jumping off the table.

Nathan jumped off the table, following Haley and catching some guy cornering her.

"Hey!" Nathan yelled at the guy hitting on Haley, "Get away from her."

"What? She's not you girl," the guy answered.

"And she's not yours, either. Back off before I beat the shit out of you," Nathan warned.

The guy looked from Haley to Nathan and back to Haley, rolled his eyes, laughed and walked away. Nathan watched the guy walk away and turned back to Haley who was reaching for another drink. Nathan quickly reacted and grabbed the drink out of her hand.

"No. You can't drink anymore," Nathan said.

"Why not?" Haley pouted.

"Because you're a mess when you are drunk, darling," Nathan said grabbing Haley's hand.

"Where are we going?" Haley said curiously.

"Upstairs," Nathan replied.

"Ill, Nathan! Gross!" Haley screeched.

Nathan looked at Haley and rolled his eyes, "Come on."

"I am not sleeping with you," Haley said seriously.

Nathan just stared at her, "You are so weird when you're drunk," he mumbled.

Haley followed Nathan to the stairs and started complaining on how tired she was and how she wanted to go to sleep.

Nathan sighed, and picked Haley up and carried her up the stairs, to his bedroom and took out her pajamas she kept there and told her to change. After a few minutes, Nathan turned back around to see Haley passed out on his bed. Nathan smiled, and tucked Haley in and kissed her forehead, "Nite, Hales."

"Nathan," Haley called out.

"Can you stay with me? I don't like it when I get sick and I'm by myself," Haley said.

"Don't puke on me," Nathan said smiling at her.

"I've done it before," Haley reminded him.

"We were 8, and that was 'cause you eat way to much cotton candy, Hales," Nathan said to a giggling Haley.

"We've been best friends for the longest time, ever," Haley said.

Nathan sighed, "Yeah."

"We have so many memories," Haley said turning over to face Nathan.

"Yeah," Nathan smiled, "And believe me they aren't even half of the ones we'll have."

Haley smiled, obviously comforted by that.

"Promise we'll always be best friends," Haley said like a 5 year old.

"Promise," Nathan said smiling at his drunken best friend, who got emotional when she was drunk. Just when he thought Haley was asleep and he was about to fall asleep, he heard Haley,

"Nate," Haley whispered.

"Yeah," Nathan said back.

"I love you," Haley said snuggling into Nathan and falling asleep.

Nathan smiled, "I love you, too."

Flashback (17 Years old)

Nathan had been invited by his Uncle Cooper to go race car driving with him, and to bring a few friends. So, Nathan brought Lucas, Haley and his sister.

"Nathan, please let me drive…Cooper even said I could!" Haley begged.

"No," Nathan said.

"Nathan, let the girl drive," Cooper said looking at his nephew strangely.

"No." Nathan told his uncle.

Cooper walked over to his niece, "What the hell is wrong with him?"

"He's protective of her," Brooke smiled.

"He's protective of you, but I've never seen him like that," Cooper said.

"That's 'cuz I think he likes her," Brooke smirked.

"You know…you and Lukey-boy look pretty cozy, too," Cooper laughed.

"We'd never go out," Brooke said looking towards Lucas.

"And why not?" Cooper asked.

"Nate'll kill him," Brooke said bluntly, but was distracted by Daytona walking over to the Scott twins.

"Daytona?" Nathan asked.

"Hey, Nathan. Brooke," Daytona smiled.

Haley glared at the girl who was nearing Nathan.

"Hi, I'm Daytona," she said.

"Haley," Haley said shortly.

"Are you…Brooke's best friend?" Daytona asked.

"Nathan's. And Brooke's," Haley replied.

"You're the famous Haley then," Daytona smiled.

Haley then smiled at her, "Depends on what'cha heard…" Haley said hinting.

Brooke was cheering on Lucas, Haley was cheering on Nathan, as Nathan, Lucas, Daytona and Cooper raced. Cooper came in first, then Daytona, then Lucas, and then Nathan. Nathan, obviously pissed decided to go for a joy ride around the track once more, and went faster then he was supposed to.

Haley jumped over to Cooper and asked him what was going on.

"He's going faster then he's supposed to, he's a Scott-a sore loser," Cooper answered.

All of a sudden, they saw Nathan crash.

Lucas, Daytona, Cooper, and Brooke ran to him, but Haley stood there shocked. She couldn't move, she couldn't talk. All she could do was stand there and watch Lucas pull out her best friend's lifeless body.

Haley was sitting in the hospital, ignoring every one around her. Brooke was in tears, and called Deb, Dan, Peyton and Jake. Everyone showed up, and Peyton, Jake, and Lucas had tried talking to Haley. She just wouldn't budge.

"Haley, honey," a teary-eyed Deb spoke , "Don't you want to go see Nathan?"

Haley shook her head, no, afraid to talk that she'd cry.

Deb sighed, "Why?"

Haley squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to hold back tears, "I can't see him like that,"

"Brooke told me, Haley," Deb said referring to what happened at the track. After pulling Nathan out, an ambulance arrived, to take Nathan and Cooper. Lucas was going to drive Haley, Brooke and Daytona to the hospital; Lucas told Haley that they were going to get going to the hospital and she broke down. Lucas grabbed on to Haley to try and calm her down, but she just started punching Lucas and when they arrived to the hospital, she'd tried to get into the operating room. The doctors had taken her and threatened to give her a sedative if she didn't calm down.

Haley looked at the woman who'd been like her mother for years and burst out crying, "He's always been the strong one, Deb…I can't see him like that,"

"Haley, honey…I'm sure that you'd feel a lot better if you went in and saw him," Deb said trying to calm Haley down.

"Okay," Haley whispered.

Haley walked into the hospital room and shook her head at the look of her best friend.

"Hey, buddy," Haley whispered. "When I saw you crash, Nathan..God, I don't think I've ever been so scared my whole life. Nathan," Haley paused, trying to hold back her tears, "You're my best friend, and you've always been the strong one, and you've always been there for me, throughout everything. Seeing you like this, I don't know…what I'm going to do, I'm not strong, Nate, not as strong as you. So, you need to wake up because I need you, I'm falling apart here, Nate," Haley stopped. "You're always trying to protect me, Nathan. So get up and protect me some more," Haley sighed. "Wake up Nathan, I miss you," Haley went in and kissed Nathan's forehead. "Love you."

Haley refused to leave the hospital until Nathan had woken up.

"Hales," Brooke said coming over to her friend, "Nate's up," she smiled.

Haley bounced up, past Deb, Dan, Cooper, Daytona, Brooke, Lucas, Peyton and Jake and straight into Nathan's room. She saw Nathan up and about, "Just like Nathan," she thought to herself.

Nathan sensed her presence and turned around and sat down on his bed, "Hey Hales."

Haley looked up towards him, "Don't you ever do that to me again."

"Haley, come here." Nathan said holding out his arms to her.

"No," Haley said stubbornly.

"Haley," Nathan warned.

"You scared me," Haley whispered walking over to him.

"I'm sorry," Nathan said smiling at her.

Haley walked over to Nathan, and fell into his arms, crying.

"Do you see why I didn't want you to get in a car?" Nathan said causing a giggle from Haley.

"You're never going racing again," Haley told him.

End Flashback

Nathan smiled to himself.

And he hadn't raced since that day.

Up Next:

-Brooke and Lucas. What happened that night of the kiss?

-Jake and Peyton. What does Peyton say?

-Haley. Gets a phone call from Taylor.

A/N; HEY ALL! JUST WANTED TO DROP BY AND PUT IN WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE 'FLASHBACK' CHAPTER, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER. SO, HERE'S AN UD ON THE STORY! UP UNTIL CHAPTER NINE IS DONE! AND I'VE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART WITH THIS STORY-THEREFORE IT WILL BE LONGER THEN I EXPECTED. I'M HOPING I GET TO AT LEAST 20 CHAPTERS, AND MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE LONGER. IT WILL BE MORE DRAMATIC THEN EXPECTED WITH WHAT I HAVE RECENTLY ADDED IN TO THE STORY. I PREDICT THIS STORY WILL BE DONE SOMETIME FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY. (MOST LIKELY JANUARY). AFTER THAT, DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS WILL BE COMING OUT. I KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT, BELIEVE ME...IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THEN ANY OTHER FIC I'VE WRITTEN. BACK TO DAMAGED; IF YOU HAVE NOTICED EACH CHAPTER IS A LINE FROM A SONG. CHAPTER 1: YOU NEED A FRIEND, I'LL BE AROUND (MORE THAN ANYONE) CHAPTER 2: TAKE A BOW, THE NIGHT IS OVER (TAKE A BOW); CHAPTER 3: YOUR HEART'S NOT THERE (SONG FOR THE LONELY); CHAPTER 4: IS IT REALLY OVER? (I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE SONG); CHAPTER 5: I WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU, I'LL STAND BY YOU (I'LL STAND BY YOU). I'M TRYING TO DO THAT AND TOWARDS THE END, THEY WILL BE LINES OF 'DAMANGED' BY TLC. SO, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW, AND I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER, SO PLEASE KEEP ON REVIEWING, EVEN IF IT'S A 'GOOD. UD SOON' OR JUST A 'UD SOON'. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, ASK THEM, AND I'LL ANSWER THEM IN THE NEXT CHAPTER; I KNOW SOMETHINGS HAVE BEEN CONFUSING, SO JUST ASK IF THERE IS SOMETHING CONFUSING YOU. THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS FOR STICKING WITH ME AND THIS STORY!

HOPE YOU ENJOY!

-CHRISSY