A/N: I'm sooo sorry it has taken so long to update! I had to write a minimum 20 page paper and it took over my life! I have spring break this week though so hopefully I can update at least once more. I'm not sure how long this fic is going to be. There are still at least several more chapters left, but I'm just debating on if I want this to be a longer fir or not.

Chapter 8: …in your…

As Nathan made his way to the A/V room to find Mouth, he passed the Tutoring Center, and couldn't help but take a quick peak in to see if Haley was there. He stuck his head in but didn't see Haley anywhere, just a couple other tutors and their designated students. Seeing no Haley, Nathan snapped his head back out of the doorway, but upon doing so hit something, or rather some one.

"Ow," someone squealed.

"Oh jeez, I'm sorr-… Haley!"

"Geez, Nathan, you're really getting great at trying to win my heart," Haley teased. His ice blue eyes gazed down at her, for a second fear flashed through them, until he realized she was only kidding. "What are you doing here anyway superstar, have you finished your tasks?"

"Well, halfway. Me and Lucas are cool, or at least we don't hate each other anymore, and I was actually on my way to see Mouth. I was just going down this hallway when I decided to see if you were in hear to say hi." Haley couldn't help but blush at his gesture. He was actually going out of his way to see her, and on top of that, he was actually trying to reconcile with Lucas and Mouth. She couldn't help but continue to fall for him even more.

"That's good. I'm sure Luke will tell me about it later, but I'll let you get to Mouth, we all know this apology is overdue."

"Bye Hales," Nathan said, but then immediately corrected himself after he saw what he thought was guilt flash across her eyes, and remembered the last time he called her Hales, "I mean Haley."

Haley looked up at him, smiling, "Bye Nathan. Hope all goes well with Mouth." And with that they went their separate ways, Haley into the tutoring center, and Nathan to the A/V room. When he got there he knocked on the door a couple times but no one answered, so he took the liberty to open it up himself. The room was fairly dark except for one light hanging from the ceiling and the computer screens.

As he scanned the room, Nathan spotted Mouth in front of the farthest computer, doing something with what seems to be tape of the latest basketball game. He was about to speak when he noticed large headphones over his ears, so instead he opted to tap Mouth on the shoulder. He didn't anticipate however, for Mouth to turn around and jump about five feet in the air.

"Nate, whatever it is! I swear I didn't do it!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mouth chill, I'm not here to hurt you."

"Oh... Sorry, considering last time I saw you, I figured you were here to kick my ass for one reason or another," Mouth stated timidly.

"Well, actually that's what I'm here about. Not to kick you ass of course, but last time I saw you. Look, I'm not proud of what I did. I was really drunk, and I didn't mean to mess you up like that. I know a lot of people think I'm this jackass who will kick your ass in a second, but I'm really not like that. Most people don't know the real me…" Nathan said as his thoughts began to trail to Haley, one of the only people he could be himself around. "…Anyway, I don't know what came over me. Actually, that's a lie, I do. I was angry, and drunk, and I found out you told Luke I hooked up with Peyton, but Mouth when you walked in on us, it wasn't what you thought. Peyton was sick and I was trying to help and comfort her and she kissed me, and I stopped it. You of course, as portrayed in basically every teen movie known to man, just happened to walk in at the completely wrong and most incriminating time."

"Oh," Mouth replied, feeling both guilty and confused as to why Nathan decided to deal with all this now.

"Yeah man, so when I found out you're the one who told Luke, I lost it, and that's when I started beating the crap out of you. That night I had been drinking more than usual, and I know that's no excuse, but don't think I was in an entirely right state of mind. I guess what I'm trying to say in the end is that, I'm sorry. No matter what, I had no right to beat you up, or even be mad at you. I mean, technically you were just telling look what you saw. You weren't lying, I mean, me and Peyton did kiss, but it wasn't intentionally and it stopped as soon as it started."

"Yeah, I guess I should probably have let you explain. I just, Lucas is one of my oldest friends and seeing you and Peyton, I didn't know what to do. I had to tell him, I'm one to tell the truth, I don't like secrets and drama."

"Mouth, its okay, you're a good friend to him. I mean, I know my group doesn't always see eye to eye with you, especially Tim, he's always a real jerk, sorry about that, but things are going to change. I'm sick of being the guy that treats everyone like crap. Someone has been showing me lately that I can be a good guy, and I want to be that guy."

"Nathan, it's okay. You don't have to keep telling me all this stuff. I mean, it's nice and all but it's kinda freaking me out. Never thought I'd have a heart to heart with Nathan Scott. Anyway, I forgave you just by you coming here. I'm not really one to keep a grudge," Mouth replied. "But uh, one question. Does all this apologizing have anything to do with that person you said has been showing you that it's possible to be a good guy?"

"Uh, maybe," Nathan says, getting a little uncomfortable at Mouth's question. He looks down at his watch and the time shows his free period is almost up and second period will be starting soon. "Well, I've got to bounce and get ready for second period. Good talking to you man, but uh, you think you could maybe keep all my deep comments to yourself. I mean, I don't want to be known as a jerk anymore, but I have to keep some of my bad boy edge. Don't want everyone thinking I'm a pansy or anything right?"

"Your secret's safe with me Nate. Just uh, don't go punching me if it somehow leaks to the public alright?"

"Very funny Mouth, peace," Nathan said as he walked by out into the hallway. As he went towards his locker, he couldn't help but feel as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It actually wasn't as bad as he had expected it to be. Him and Lucas were cool, and now that he apologized to Mouth, he was almost ready to let that night be locked away in his past. One thing stood in his way though, Tim. He needed to see if he was the one who drugged Peyton.

However, at this moment that wasn't on the top of his priority list, Haley was. Maybe since he reconciled with Lucas and Mouth, the 'gods would be appeased' as Haley would say, and he and Haley could finally be together. It would be hard, and a lot of people at school would probably be skeptical, but Nathan didn't care. For the first time in his life, he was finally ready to be who he wanted to be, not who people expected him to be or what wanted to be. He was ready to be the real Nathan Scott, and he believed Haley James could help him do that.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I hope it was worth the wait. : Leave the good, the bad, the happy, the sad.