Okay, sorry about the loooooooong wait, I have a serious case of writers block, and its killing me. I'm also sorry about the shortness and the boringness of this chapter. It's sort of a filler for what I have in store, so bear with me and I'll get you what you want. You guys rock, so yeah, without further ado, chapter seven.

Chapter Seven- Happy Birthday Nick?

Hallie and Nick sat on his room. It wasn't like uncomfortable 'I've got a secret crush on you' or anything. It was like two friends talking.

"So, this is your family?" Hallie asked, sitting on his bed.

"Yea, my nephews and my new little niece."

"Niece! You said that his name was Ryan."

"They named the girl Ryan."

"Oh, that's so pretty. Such a cute name for a girl. So, about this Nate guy…"

"He's really cool, one of my best friends here."

"Is he single?"

"What!"

"You heard me, is your nephew single?"

"Isn't that a weird question?"

"Well, yea, but he's hot."

"You're ten."

"Almost eleven."

"Don't you have some girlfriend to tell this to?"

"Well, yea, but she's hours away."

"Who?"

"Bridgett."

"That prep, you're friends with her now?"

"It's been five years, give it a rest."

"Wow, can't you call her?"

"She's never seen him, and he's to dreamy to describe."

"If you say one more thing about how dreamy or hot my nephew is, you're going to be uninvited to my birthday."

"Hater."

"Please, you wish."

"No, you wish."

They laughed it out, it was kind of like old days.

"So, when are you coming back?"

"What do you mean?"

"Coming back to Tree Hill."

"I can't, remember, my mom and dad went on a vacation."

"No they didn't, well if they did, they've been back a while."

"What do you mean?"

"I see them like everyday. They're there, in that disgustingly huge house that they had redone. It's huge. I don't see how they don't get lost in it."

"I didn't know."

"Well come back with me."

He sat there a minute, thinking about it, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can do that. I think I belong here. I mean at first, I didn't want to be here, this place was small, and then two crying babies, and I had to help out. But, I think this was good for me, and I belong here, as strange as that may sound. I mean this is like my family now, and I think if I were to go back, I'd do something I would regret."

"Like what?"

"Finish the job my brothers started years ago."

"Which would be…"

"I can't say, but hey, come on, it's almost time for my birthday festivities to begin, we're going to have a huge basketball game, kids vs. adults, you can be a cheerleader though."

"Will Nate be playing?"

"Yes, on my team, duh."

"Okay, I'm in."

"Great. I'm not even going to say anything."

They got up and went down the stairs.