AN-This is the last chapter I'll post tonight most likely, and I'll try and get a few, if not the rest, up tomorrow. I still hope you all are enjoying this fanfic. This chapter is mostly Peyton and Nathan, but with a tiny twist at the end. The next chapter is mostly bringing more of the teenagers back into the plotline.

Love, Emily


The cool night breeze was now what replaced the humidity from the unexpected showers earlier that day. After finding a spot to park, the two headed over toward the edge of the water near the Rivercourt with Nathan carrying two blankets. No matter how hot it got during the summer in North Carolina, the nights were always something to look forward to. Cool, crisp, the dim light of the downtown area, and especially, the stars. The stars were always beautiful, reflecting off the waves near the water, with the moon in near sight. She watched with a smile as Nathan laid out the two blankets at the exact edge of the water.

"Alright…so, now that we've spent the whole freaking day on me," Peyton started as they both laid down on their blankets, "why were you at my house earlier anyway?" She knew the answer couldn't be good. Nathan was going through just as many, if not more, problems than she was. They both had become each other's comfort zone, just someone to talk to, someone to understand.

"Haley." was simply all he said. There wasn't really much more to be said. It was always Haley, or at least for the past few months. She didn't know why she even bothered asking what was wrong. They question that should've been asked was 'What'd Haley do now?' It was horrible for her to think like that, but Haley had driven everyone to think that way. The only part they saw was how she was affecting Nathan, not that she was happy.

"What happened?" Peyton asked, hoping it wasn't something too bad. It was the last thing Nathan needed right now. Part of her was afraid to know the answer.

"She came home," he said, staring off into the water, the moonlight reflecting off the water onto his face, making it glow white. Peyton was speechless, not knowing what to say since she wasn't sure if this was a bad thing or good. After Haley first left him, it would've been good, but now, she wasn't so sure. Peyton knew what it was like…having someone you love just leave you, her own father. "I told her to go back to New York."

"I'm sorry, Nathan," she soothed, placing her left hand on his leg in comfort.

"Don't be…she only came home because I signed the annulment papers. She only wanted to make things right because she finally saw that it wasn't okay. It took her way to long, and it's too late now…" Nathan rambled on, spilling his life onto Peyton. She was clueless once again, for she hadn't even known about him even thinking about annulment, let alone actually signing for it.

"Well I still can't help but feel sorry," she smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "She was really good for you Nate, even if you won't see that anymore."

"Better than you?" he joked.

"Oh hell yes…we had way to much drama together," she smiled at him, "and not to mention we're about the two most stubborn people in Tree Hill." He turned to her and laughed, nodding his head in agreement though.

"So…do you mind me asking what was wrong with you today?" he asked cautiously, not wanting her to break down in front of him again. That was something he didn't want to see anymore. He was really protective of Peyton, but girls in general. Especially if he was friends with them.

She sighed, turning to the water and gazing at the reflecting moon. "Lucas…"

"What'd he do?" Nathan asked her, trying to get her to look at him, but she wouldn't. She knew she would probably tear up again with just the thought of it, so she didn't want anyone to see this time around.

"I really don't know…he either lied to me or Brooke, and according to Brooke, it was me he lied to," she said slowly, trying to concentrate on the water, and not on earlier that morning.

"What was I supposed to say to Brooke, huh! She was LEAVING! You had Jake, and I had no one!"

Nathan didn't have to ask what Lucas supposedly lied about. He remembered their talk about 'the girl Lucas has feelings for,' but he always thought it was Peyton. Hell, Nathan was jealous for that fact, thinking Peyton was still into Lucas, until Jake came around anyway. "He brought up the fact that I had Jake and that he had no one," Peyton added, saying what she was thinking of.

"Well if he wasn't so blin-,"

"Exactly," Peyton cut him off, not even needing him to finish the rest of his sentence. It was nice to know that Nathan agreed with her, showing her that she wasn't over-reacting or misjudging Lucas. It was nice to know that she could always turn to Nathan, about anything, even if she thought it would be uncomfortable.

The two lied on their blankets in silence for a while, just gazing off at the stars, occasionally catching stolen glances of one another. They let the moment linger, for it was surely not going to remain this easy to enjoy summer. Something wrong was bound to happen, sooner rather than later.

"Shit, it's late, we better go, it's almost curfew," Nathan said, flipping open his phone to check the time. It was almost midnight, and they'd been there for two hours. "Come on, I'll drive you home," he said, holding out a hand to help her up. After leaning down to pick up the blankets, they both headed toward his car, once again, catching stolen glances when the opportunity came.

He pulled up in her driveway and got out of the car with her. "I had a really good time tonight, Peyt…" he smiled down at her.

"Me too."

"But, I'll talk to you later, alright?" she nodded in response as his lips found her forehead. She closed her eyes simultaneously, not sure what was happening. "Call me, whenever you need someone…don't keep it all in, I'm here…"

"Thanks Nate, goodnight…."

"Night."

Peyton shut her front door and lingered there until she saw his car disappear around the corner. She smiled as she headed up to her room, about to fall asleep. That was until she got to her doorway to see someone sitting on her bed, just as Nathan had done that morning.

"Only in Tree Hill…"