Hey Everyone!

I have to be honest and apologize to everyone. I've been holding off updating thisstory, because honestly, I don't want it to be over...It's been such a hit with you reviewers, and I'm extremely thankful for that. I'm also thankful and proud to say DLS is on it's way up, too.

For all your readers of Accidentally in Love and And If I Had To Do It All Again-I'm known to make my last chapter a cliffhanger, and clear things up in the Epilogue.

This is the last chapter of Damaged! There will be an epilogue coming out within the month, and after that I will be spending some time on DLS-before starting my next fic, Everytime We Touch, after a songtitle by Cascada's Everytime We Touch, and a preview will be out in the epilogue. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy the wrap-up of Damaged!

Chapter 17: I Don't Wanna Wait, For Our Lives To Be Over…

Two Months Later…

Within the past two months, Haley and Nathan both made small, but definite progress. Haley became even more dependent on Nathan than ever, trying to not be away from him for more than a few merely minutes. When Monica was at the apartment, she would send Haley dirty glances which Haley would reciprocate. Nathan inching closer and closer to dumping Monica, and becoming more in love with Haley. Haley was also falling deeper in love with her best friend, yet way to afraid to do anything about her feelings about her best friend.

Brooke and Lucas had gotten engaged a month after the incident in the hospital. The friends couldn't be happier for them. Along with being happy for the newly engaged couple, they were also excited for the soon-to-be parents, Jake and Peyton. When Peyton announced it, Haley asked to be by herself and Nathan followed her. Haley definitely wasn't upset about Peyton being pregnant; she was mourning what she lost.

Now sitting in the apartment, were all of the friends, plus Monica.

Monica was desperately throwing herself at Nathan, whose undivided attention was on Haley, when Monica got up of the couch and decided to make a scene.

"Jaley, can you go get me and Nathan some coffee?" Monica asked.

"Haley," Nathan mumbled.

"Bitch, get it yourself," Haley answered with her "Scott" smirk.

"Listen, I'm your best friend's girlfriend," Monica asked.

"You don't realize that you can just not be his girlfriend at any point in time," Haley said, "If I say two words."

"Which are?" Monica asked.

Haley laughed, "Dump Her."

"You know, Nathan, you think your Haley is so precious, but do you forget that…she's the one who lost your baby?" Monica asked and Haley's face drained of color.

"You told her?" Haley asked.

Nathan got up "Monica!"

"Stay away, Nathan." Haley warned, walking out of the apartment.

"Haley!" Nathan said calling after her, "How the hell did you find out about that Monica?" Nathan roared.

"I overheard the two of you," Monica said.

"Get the fuck out of my apartment," Nathan told her.

"Nathan," Monica said shocked.

"I want you out of this apartment, and I don't ever want to see you again. Do you fucking understand me? You've caused nothing but shit in my life, and I don't want anything to do with you. Now get out before I actually let Haley beat the shit out of you!" Nathan called.


"Did you really not tell her?" Brooke asked her big brother.

"Brooke," Nathan sighed, "I would never tell anyone about that. It's personal and it's a subject I don't like talking about with anyone but Haley."

Brooke nodded, "You're so in love with her." She whispered, taking a seat next to him.

Nathan smiled at his younger, yet wiser sister, "I am."

"Why don't you tell her?" Peyton said walking over and sitting on the other side of Nathan.

"She's been through so much, lately," Nathan admitted. "I don't want her to deal with anything else."

"Dude, she's so obviously in love with you, too," Lucas said sitting in front of his friend.

"I mean, she was pregnant with your baby," Jake said sitting next to Lucas.

"She probably thinks it was just sex," Nathan shrugged.

"Big brother, it's never just sex, especially with Haley," Brooke told him smiling.

"Nathan, you being in love with her is going to be the sunshine at the end of this tunnel she's been going through," Peyton said.

"You think?" he asked his friends.

They all nodded and immediately got up when Haley walked back into the apartment.

"We've got to be elsewhere," Brooke said running out of her old apartment, with her friends on her heels.

"What was that about?" Haley asked.

Jake ran back in, "Can I just call my parents to tell them I'm on my way to get Jenny?"


Nathan walked over to Haley who was watching T.V.

"I didn't tell her," Nathan told her.

Haley turned off the T.V., and looked up at her best friend, "I figured. That girl's crazy, Nathan."

"That's why I dumped her," Nathan said. "Plus some other things."

"You dumped her?" Haley asked incredulously.

Nathan nodded.

Haley looked at him and immediately jumped off the couch doing her, "Happy dance."

Nathan immediately started laughing, "You know…you could've just said you didn't like her."

Haley stopped, "Oh, I thought you got all the hints I sent her," she said sarcastically.

"Yeah, especially that time you told her 'If you don't leave now, I might just kill you.," Nathan laughed.

Haley started laughing and stopped when she realized Nathan was staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"You know how I said I dumped her for some other things?" Nathan asked taking a step closer to her.

"Yeah," Haley said suspiciously.

"You want to know what it is?" he asked.

"Okay?" Haley questioned.

"You," Nathan smiled.

Haley scoffed, "Nathan, I didn't like her…but if you really liked her, I would've dealed."

Nathan shook his head, "No Haley."

Haley stared at Nathan.

"It's cause, I'm in love with you." Nathan told her.

Haley stared at him, "Wait. What?"

"I'm in love with you, Haley. I've been so stupid for the longest time. You're the only girl that matters to me. I date other girls, but they honestly don't mean anything to me. All I've wanted is you. And I guess I'm finally confessing. That night meant so much to me Haley. And, I want to be with you. These past few things that have happened, have been horrible, but they've been signs. I love you Haley, I always have."

Haley stared at Nathan, "You!"

Nathan immediately started regretting it, "I know that a lot is at risk here, but Haley…you're worth it. I know it would work out, it's worth risking our friendship over."

Haley sighed, making Nathan think negatively, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that."

Nathan looked towards Haley, "What?"

Haley held her hand out, motioning him to stop, "But you need to know. I'm damaged, Nate. I'm gonna be hard to deal with."

Nathan shook his head, "Even harder to deal without."

Haley smiled and looked at him, "Nathan? Aren't you gonna kiss me?"

Nathan smiled, "No regrets this time."

"There weren't any last time," she smiled back.

"I know," he whispered and kissed her.

Haley broke away, "I love you, too."

And this kiss, well, this kiss changed everything, just like the last.

But this one, started something so much more exciting…It started…

Love.

As I said, I usually make the last chapter a cliffhanger, and clear things up in the epilogue...I never said always. This one was for you guys! Hope you enjoyed!

-Chrissy