Chapter 14: My heart always lies with you

Lucas kept holding Haley and reassuringly moving his thumb over her hair "Please, hales, tell me what happened. Nathan would never just break up with you. He was a wreck when you were hurt."

Haley sobbed and waited until she could talk without stuttering, "Have you heard about his mom?" Lucas nodded "Well, he decided that he needed to be alone for a while because of that and because he is getting emancipated. H-He doesn't want m-me with h-h-him." Haley sobbed

Lucas sighed and then he heard the theme song to ESPN. His phone was ringing. He looked at the ID and saw that it said Nathan, and ignored the call. Haley didn't need that, along with everything else that was going.

"Who was that?" Haley asked, calming down again

"Out of area." Lucas shrugged "Can I drive you home now?"

Haley nodded and Lucas took off. Haley started thinking about her day and was brought to tears. She tried to keep them silent but it was becoming progressively harder as the minutes strolled by. They soon arrived at her house and lucas helped her out and upstairs. She silently thanked god for a great friend like lucas.

After he had dropped her off at her house, he started to drive himself home when his phone rang again. He looked and it was Nathan.

"Hello"

"Hey Luke. I have something to tell you." A very broken voice said

"Yah, you broke up with Haley. I heard."

"How?"

Lucas sighed "She called me to pick her up from the hospital. She came home today."

"Oh."

"Yah, care to tell me why you felt that you needed to break up with her."

"I just, its gonna be hard enough. I need to be alone for a while, ya know." Nathan said "How is she?"

"How do you think she is? She's heart broken."

"Can you look out for her?"

"Yes."

2 months later

Haley sat in Peyton's room. She knew that guys were probably sitting at home watching her do her homework on the webcam, but she didn't care. The last couple of months had been hell and she was finally able to begin to get over Nathan. She saw him everyday and it became harder by the minute to see him. She was waiting for him to ask her out again, which wasn't happening. Once she realized that he had said that they would get back together, but hadn't meant it…well, she was finally able to get over Nathan and move on. She hadn't started dating anybody yet, but was mentally and emotionally ready.

Haley put away her finished Algebra homework and got out a new piece of paper. She grabbed her favorite pen and started to write the letter that would help her get over him once and for all.

Dear Nathan,
I'm not sure if you will understand why I'm writing this. I need to be able to get over you, once and for all. I love you, you know that. And I thought that you loved me, but if you did then you would never have broken up with me or we would at least be back together by now. This letter is about a final goodbye. I need to say that we could have been great. I felt, and still do feel, that you're the one for me. The only one that I want, but we both know now that that won't happen. I finally understand that it would have been difficult to go through everything that you went through with me, but the one thing I don't understand is why you didn't ask me out again. But this letter isn't about unanswered questions, it's about love, loss, and forgiveness. I forgive you for everything that happened, even though it probably isn't you fault. I also forgive myself for hating you for not wanting me. I just want you to know that I will never, ever stop loving you. I may have other boyfriends, or someday get married. But part of my heart will always lie with you.
Love always,
Haley

Haley sat there and read and reread the letter, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She folded it up and put it in an envelope. She put it in her purse and waited for Peyton to return. Haley decided to log online and noticed that Lucas was away. She checked his away message and it told her that he was shooting hoops at the river court. Then she decided to talk to Brooke.

Brknlove:Hey brooke, what's up
Cheerynprdofit: Hey hales. Not much, prepping for tonight's party at my house. What u up 2?
Brknlove: I'm not sure. Contemplating attending your party tonight.
Cheerynprdofit: OMG, really? Please come, wait no I think Nathan is coming. Maybe I should just kick him out
Brknlove: It will be fine. I will have to live with him eventually. I mean we do have the same friends, don't we?
Cheerynprdofit: In that case, I have the perfect outfit for you to wear. OMG I found a really cute belly ring too. Aren't you glad I convinced you to get it pierced?
Brknlove: Haha, no. But I will be over after my shift. Speaking of, I G2G. Cya at your house at 8, k?
Cheerynprdofit: you bet
Brknlove signed off at 11:16

Haley walked out of Peyton's room and outside. She left Peyton a note saying that she had to work at the café at 12 and needed to leave. Haley went to Nathan's new apartment and put the letter in his mail before heading to the café.

Nathan arrived home and gathered his mail. He flipped through and saw all bills, crap, and college information letters. Finally he came across the last letter and recognized the writing on the front. He opened it slowly, afraid with what it would conceal.

Nathan read the note slowly, careful to not miss a word and felt a cloud of regret. He wanted Haley back, but it never felt like the right time. He either felt like a jackass for breaking up with her or didn't feel good enough to be with her, but now he felt regret. He was regretting his first decision, regretting not asking her out, and regretting the fact that he was a jackass. He got up and ran to her house, where he was told to go to the café. When he went to the café he saw Haley talking to a guy he recognized as the new kid who moved here from Ohio. He walked in, saw the boy smile, and say "It's a date then. Pick you up at 8:30 Haley."