This Chapter is split into two POV's, and is not strictly chronological. Please don't hurt me if it's confusing, but I just thought this way would work best.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Feeling a Moment

Haley

Wow, shiny isn't the word. I don't think that shiny quite defines just how my face is right now. Ugh, and Nathan saw me like this. You know, you would think at a party like this, the AC would be pushed up to the max?

Yeah, as you can probably see I am in the middle of a thought ramble. Tends to happen when I am nervous. Like, really really nervous. Oh God, I feel like I'm about to walk out to my own execution or something.

So, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to go out there and me and Nathan are going to have... well, we're going to have a talk. I've already planned it out in my head. This is how it's going to be:

Me: Nathan, we need to talk

Nathan: Of course Haley, light of my life, love of...

Um... no. Let's try again.

Me: Nathan, we need to talk.

Nathan: Sure.

Me: Okay, don't speak because I have this whole speech planned out (Which I have, by the way). See, I know that in the past couple of days, I've just kept pushing you away, and to me it seemed like the right thing, only now... well now I don't think it is. The right thing, I mean. See, the way we are together, and the way you make me feel, I know now that that's no lie. I know that even though we don't know each other too well, and that we're from two completely different sides of the High School spectrum, we work. Inexplicable and unexplainably, we work.

And, whatever he says in reply to that. Hopefully something along the lines of, "I love you Haley". In fact, I'm kind of hoping he cuts me off with a kiss halfway through because I don't have much confidence in remembering all of that.

I wipe my face down with some powder and reapply my lipstick. Thankfully my hair is still in place. That hairspray is really worth the money.

Right, time to go and confront my demons...

Just as I'm throwing everything back into my small silk clutch, my phone goes off.

Ha, maybe I'm thinking it's fate! Nathan's phone has been beeping all night and now mine has! I just don't know whether it's a good sign or a bad sign.

I reach for it and press the button that lets me get to my message.

Haley, can you come out to the car park? We need to talk...

Nathan

Weird. I don't recognise the number, but then that's probably because I don't have Nathan's number anyway.

I get it! He's feeling what I'm feeling. He knows we need to talk and he doesn't want to do it in the hustle (and the heat) of the ballroom.

Okay, so take deep breaths and go out there. I throw my mobile back into my bag and close the clasp.

It's cold out, and I idly wonder why Nathan's not here yet. I stroke my hands up and down my arms. God, what am I doing here? I'm not this stupid. I should have sent a text back saying that I would meet him in the cloakroom or something. Jeez, you have one stupid revelation and your common sense goes out of the window...

Suddenly a bright flash goes off. What the hell was that? I look around the car park, but all I can see are too-expensive cars ands street lights. I head towards the entrance.

Just as I'm under the awning, my phone buzzes again. I reach in and press the button, trying to get rid of the shivers at the back of my neck.

Sorry just got held up by some old woman wanting to dance. U know me, do anything for the ladies :) I'll be out in a second...

Nathan x

As I read his words the chills subside. I'm being silly. Nathan will be here in a second and then we can get on with this conversation that we need to have. I'm about to put my phone back in my bag when it starts ringing.

I press 'answer' and hold the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Haley?"

It's Nathan. There's something wrong with his voice. It's kind of rushed, like he's talking too fast. "Nathan? Wh..."

"Where are you?" Nathan goes on.

"Well, I'm here, like you asked me. Where are you? Is that old woman asking for a repeat?" I ask with a laugh.

"What? No, nevermind... Haley, where's 'here'? Where are you?"

"I'm in the carpark. Nathan, what's wrong? Why aren't you here yet?"

I can't lie, I'm getting worried. I don't know what's going on but the panic in Nathan's voice is really scaring me.

"Oh God Haley... I can't see you!"

I look around the car park again. Everything is still. Eeily still.

"I'm under the awning, near the entrance."

"Damn, I shouldn't have came out the side-door... Haley, can you... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP"

The phone's cut off.

"Nathan?" I shout. "Nathan!"

Nathan

"I'm just going to go and freshen up."

I look down at Haley and smile. I can't help myself. I reach down and kiss her softly - just a peck. I step back and wait for the fireworks. I can hear some idiots at our friend's table giving a wolf whistle. Great, she's going to kill me.

She smiles at me - a real genuine smile, not a 'Yeah-I'm-gunna-kick-your-ass' smile. She goes to say something but instead raises her index finger. "I'll be back in a moment."

I watch in amazement as she walks off towards the girl's restroom, that genuine smile still on her face.

Okay, did that just happen? Because I think that just happened.

"Hey stud!" Brooke says, coming over and whacking me playfully on the arm. "Guess what? I'll tell you - I think Haley's falling for you again."

I can't help but grin. It kinda feels like my birthday or something.

I'm beeped out of that thought with yet another text message making my phone go off. I leave it.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Brooke asks. She keeps glancing over at Lucas with a grin.

"Nah. It'll be another prank. What do you see in him anyway?" I joke, referencing Lucas.

"You've been getting pranks?" Brooke asks, obviously unable to answer my question. Ha ha.

"Ah, it's nothing. Just some punk thinking he's funny," I say like it's no big deal, because really, it's not.

"How'd he get your number?" Brooke goes on.

"Jeez Brooke, chill out, okay? It's nothing."

Brooke nods, but she doesn't look very convinced. I look back to the restroom. Haley's been gone a while.

"Aw, young love," Brooke teases.

"Like you can talk," I tell her with a grin. The two of us walk over to our friends.

"You like Haley?" Tim is saying, dumbstruck. God that boy is an idiot. I told him in front of the whole class that I like Haley.

"Duh," Kevin Devino says, raising an eyebrow.

"God, why do girls spend ages in the bathroom?" I ask no one in particular.

"Because," Peyton says, stepping away from Jake long enough to contribute. "Girls like to look good, especially when they want to impress someone." She finishes this delightful insight off with a wink.

Damn, I'm smiling.

"Oh! He's so cute!" Brooke says. I raise my eyebrow and catch Luke's eye. He looks uncomfortable. I was so happy about what's happening with me and Haley that I completely forgot that he and Haley used to date. Boy, have my priorities changed.

My phone beeps again.

"Oh for the love of God Nathan!" Brooke shouts like I'm making my phone beep on purpose. "You have no idea who's texting you?"

"No, I don't" I tell her, taking the phone out of my pocket with a furrowed brow. God, if I knew which asshole had been sending these moronic texts I'd have...

I almost drop the phone in shock. It's a picture message. Haley is stood in her dress. I can't work out where she is, but it's dark. Underneath is some words:

Do you know where she is Nathan?

Oh my God... these texts aren't just annoying any more. they're dangerous. This person has his eye on Haley... he knows where she is now. He could do anything.

"What does it say?"

I look up to see Brooke surveying me curiously. I can't answer, I turn around and run for the door. It's shut. Why the hell is the door shut?

I turn around, panic rising and run back through the ballroom.

"Nathan, what's going on?" Lucas calls, and I notice quite a few people staring at me. I can't say anything, I just run for the fire exit.

"Nate, you can't open that door!" Brooke shouts, but I ignore her. I open it quickly and run out into the cool night air. I can't see her here. I'm in a car park.

I frantically dial in Haley's number. I got it from Luke's phone when I first came up with this plan.

Stupid Plan!

Thankfully, the phone is answered promptly "Hello?" Haley says, her voice kind of confused.

"Haley?" I practically shout, trying not toshow how worried I am. It's not working.

"Nathan? Wh..."

"Where are you?" I cut in. I can't afford for her to be out there this long.

"Well, I'm here, like you asked me. Where are you? Is that old woman asking for a repeat?" She asks. Oh God, what the hell is happening?

"What? No, nevermind... Haley, where's 'here'? Where are you?"

"I'm in the carpark. Nathan, what's wrong? Why aren't you here yet?"

She's in the carpark? I look around, but I can't see her. I run out and turn. She's nowhere to be seen

"Oh God Haley... I can't see you!"

"I'm under the awning, near the entrance."

The entrance? I completely forgot that the car park goes around the building. I start running.

"Damn, I shouldn't have came out the side-door... Haley, can you..."

I don't get to finish though. I don't get to finish because a seemingly empty car isn't so empty. The headlights come on, and the phone is knocked from my hands as the car ploughs towards me.

And then everything goes hazy. I'm staring up at the dark sky, the stars merging together.

Is this death?

LINE