A/N: Thank you guys for leaving me those amazing comments! I have like no time so I'm just dropping this off. Hope ya'll like it! Thank you again!

"It was bad huh?" Brooke asked as the group sat around the apartment. Since Haley was attacked the five friends were spending more time together as a group, hanging out at the rivercourt, at the apartment, and the cafe.

"I hated it. She was a bitch about everything too. I don't care what you guys think is best, but I'm not going back to her." Haley confessed as she stretched across the counter where the girls were currently situated to grab a piece of fruit from the bowl.

"Haley..." Peyton started.

"No. I really don't want to hear it. I'm not going back. And Nathan said he wouldn't make me, so there goes your strongest link."

"Nathan Scott!" Brooke screeched.

"Oh man. What did you do now?" Lucas chuckled as he paused the game the boys were currently playing to hear what Brooke was mad about this time.

"What now Brooke?"

"You told Haley she didn't have to go back to counselling, that's 'what's now'"

"You what?" Lucas asked suprised.

"Brooke you weren't there and I don't think Haley should have to go back if she doesn't want to." Nathan explained as if it were the simplest thing in the world, smiling to Haley afterwards. Which received a heartfelt thank you.

"Haley I have to agree with Brooke on this. I really think you should talk to someone who can help you with this."

"Well Lucas I really have to agree with Nathan on this because neither you or some stupid counsellor can possible understand what I'm going through or what I went through." Haley hissed before retreating into her room in a huff.

"Way to go guys." Nathan sighed as he followed the same path as his wife took seconds before, not bothering to knock as he entered the room. Haley was laying aross her bed with her legs hanging off the side, her hands folded across her stomach as she willed herself not to cry.

"They don't get it." Haley sighed, letting Nathan take the same position beside her. "I just don't feel like I should have to go and spill my life to someone who doesn't even know first hand what I'm going through. No book or class can teach you how to feel this way and it's not fair for them to sit there on everyone's money and suggest some ridiculous scheme to make everything better."

"Hey, um sorry for pissing you off roomie, and sorry for interrupting but someone's on the phone for you." Brooke explained, handing the phone to Haley before backing out of the room and closing the door.

XoxoxoxoxoxoX

"You ready?" Nathan asked Haley as the two sat outside the big government funded building, Haley staring at it as if it were the enemy. Two days ago Ms. Parissa had called and set Haley up to join a group counseling session in hopes to help Haley better than she had. Reluctantly Haley had agreed.

"I guess." Haley sighed. "I really don't want to go."

"I think it'll be good. At least you'll be with people who understand what you're going through." Nathan offered.

"Whatever. Let's just do this." Haley muttered, opening her door and walking to the building's entrance.

"Hales!" Nathan yelled out before jogging to catch up with her. "You're going to be okay."

"Thanks. You'll wait for me?" Haley asked hopefully once he had stopped her and pulled her into his embrace.

"Always."

"Alright. Then let's get this over with." She sighed into his chest before pulling away and walking with him into the centre.

"Haley?" A women who appeared to be in her mid-twenties asked as the two approached the hallway that was to lead them to the room.

"Um yea?" Haley answered with confusion, gripping Nathan's hand into her own.

"I'm Chloe, I run the meeting. I didn't recognize you as any of my other girls so I figured you were the new one." Chloe explained casually.

"Oh, um, okay."

"You're nervous. Totally understandable, but don't be. We're all here to help each other and you'll do fine. Shall I lead the way?"

"Yeah. I'll see you soon?" Haley confirmed as she turned to Nathan.

"I'll be right out there." Nathan smiled, motioning to the hastily set up waiting area.

"Okay." Haley exhaled worriedly.

"You'll be great." Nathan assured before kissing her forehead. Haley let out a tight smile and turned to find Chloe waiting patiently for her. Turning to look at Nathan once more she let Chloe lead the way to the meeting.

"Man there is one hottie in the waiting area." A tall brunette announced as she arrived in the room.

"Who is it?" Another girl with dark blonde hair asked.

"That would be Haley's husband, down girls." Chloe answered, keeping Haley by her side. "And this is Haley, our newest addition."

"Hi, Jessica. I'm sorry husband?" The initial brunette introduced herself.

"Yea, too young right?" Haley laughed nervously.

"No. I just, didn't expect that." Jessica laughed light heartedly at herself.

"So go on." The blonde girl urged.

"I'm sorry?"

"Ignore Heather. I really don't know why she continues to come here." Chloe laughed at the girl's forwardness. Heather had been one of Chloe's first victims and while the others had moved on and said farewell to the group, Heather had remained.

"Oh Chloe, you know I'm a great addition. Plus I bring light, showing these girls that there is life after the horrible."

"Whatever you need to believe. Alright girls let's do this." Chloe instructed still keeping the nervous girl with her.

"Isn't she great?" A peppy wide eyed brunette whispered to Haley, taking a seat beside her. "I'm Holly."

"Haley." She smiled as Chloe provided Haley with a chair.

"Alright, so as I said, Haley here will be joining us. Now I know this is so movie-typical, but can you tell us about yourself? You can sit or stand, whatever suits you."

"Uh, ok. I'm a senior at Tree Hill High. Um, I'm a tutor there, I did the cheerleading thing for a little bit this year but stopped because, um, I was attacked at a basketball game so…" Haley wavered off, her voice had become quiet and nervous the longer she spoke.

"Well, Haley I'm impressed. You just jumped right in. You don't have to go through it right now if you don't want to, we get it, we've been there. How about we introduce ourselves with the basics. As you know I'm Chloe. I'm 26 and I've been running the program for 3 years. I didn't grow up here, I'm actually from Manhattan where I attended NYU for a little bit after high school." Chloe confessed, well not so much confessed as repeated, this was only new information to Haley.

"I'm Jessica, and sorry for hitting on your husband back there but he is a hottie. Anyway I'm 19 I actually went to T.H. High, graduated two years ago, so I guess you were a sophomore back then and I never made it to college, I have better ways to spend my money."

"Thanks Jess." Chloe interrupted before Jessica could go into detail about her sending sprees.

"I'm Heather, I'm purely here for support and proof that it gets better. And also to annoy our dear Chloe. I'm from her guinea pig group, her first meeting. Lemme tell you, she wasn't always this way, I swear she used to run this thing like she had a stick lodged up her ass, but we fixed that didn't we Chlo." Heather smirked, the rest of the girls quietly laughing alongside their idol.

"I'm Bridget, I actually go to school with Haley and she already knows me so…" Bridget shrugged, she'd spewed the introduction speech many times before, she was glad Haley knew her, saved her from repeating the same old crap.

After two girls by the names of Amanda and Kelly it was Holly's turn before going back to Haley.

"I'm Holly. I'm a senior at the lovely Tree Hill Academy, bad choices." Holly laughed as she shook her head in shame. "Um, I'm 17 and do pretty much what most high school seniors do. Weeknights I do homework, hang out with my friends, listen to music, watch tv. Weekends I go to the game, the parties that are after and sleep in til' noon."

"Great. So Haley these guys okay?"

"Um yea?" Haley answered, feeling pressured and put on the spot.

"Alright, Heather is throwing a fidget fit so here's your 15 minute break. Haley you smoke?"

"Of course she doesn't, look at her skin, it's perfect. Like a baby's ass." Heather answered, bumping Haley's hip before leaving the room.

"No, I don't." Haley confirmed.

"Good girl. Never start." Chloe laughed, following the route as Heather.

"So now what?" Haley turned to Holly.

"Well those who smoke, do that while the rest of us drink that horrid coffee from the machine down the hall and make small talk."

"Sounds good to me. It's kind of nerve racking talking to everyone in a circle about myself."

"You get used to it. After all the formalities it gets louder, one person starts a story another finishes. It's comforting."

"I'll take your word for it."

"So, what's the story on the husband? I mean if you don't mind me asking."

"No. But um, isn't there like other girls that you hang out with during break?"

"Not really. I mean Bridget's cool, but you seem so much more, I dunno, friend worthy?"

"Cool, I was just wondering. Um, me and Nathan. We got married last year, it was just us a priest and my parents on the beach. But we're kind of on a break right now."

"Because you were attacked?"

"No, no not at all. Um, I kind of messed it up. I left to go on a tour and he took it personally and then I came back after awhile and now I'm trying to regain his trust. But we're working on it. And wow, I just kept on going didn't I? I kind of tend to ramble when I'm nervous." Haley weakly smiled, finding interest in her wedding ring.

"Nah it's cool. I'm known to do it too. Well since it's only fair…I currently have no steady boyfriend, not to say that I did when I was attacked, but whatever. Oh and that happened almost two months ago, to give you a time frame, but I'm finally back to having fun with guys, I was actually back to that like a month ago but hey can't live without em right?"

"Wow. So you were okay around anyone after like a month. It's only been like 2 weeks and I feel like I'm getting nowhere."

"Are you going to school?"

"Yea. I was back the next day, well after the weekend."

"See that's better then some. Kelly over there, she hasn't gone back yet and it's been a little over a month."

"Oh, okay I'm starting to like this group thing a hell of alot better then the one on one."

"Oh god. I hated that. I mean kudos to those who are able to do it, but personally I felt like taking the pencil she kept jotting down those notes with and, well doing something violent with it. I honestly doubt that half those counselors have ever even experience what we have."

"I know!" Haley agreed with enthusiasm. Both girls left smiling at a new friendship.

XoxoxoxoxoX

"So how was it?" Nathan asked as he and Haley walked out to his car.

"I liked it." Haley smiled, reaching out and slipping her hand into his.