This is based on Sugarland's "Stay" - it's solely written to get over my writer's block.

I've been sitting here

staring at the clock on the wall

and I've been laying here, praying

praying she won't call

The snow fell silently outside and only a sliver of the moon's white shadow fell between the curtains, illuminating a dull glow across the quiet bedroom. Haley James lay on top of her bed hugging her knees to her chest as she vacantly stared at the ticking clock on the wall.

12:21 am.

It was later than usual— but his phone had yet to ring on the nightstand.

Her eyes trailed towards the ceiling, hoping to stop gravity from pulling the pooling tears down her red cheeks. She didn't want him to see her like this, but Nathan was laying peacefully beside her with his hand gently resting against her bare thigh. A barely audible snore occasionally sounded from between his semi-parted lips, and Haley could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath as he unknowingly shifted closer to her body. With every passing minute, her teeth sank deeper into her protruding lip— it was the only way to combat the loud sob threatening to escape.

The tears were now falling like the snow; silent, but rapid. Haley should have known better than to try and fight gravity. She already lost once— when she fell in love with a man she should not have.

Who was she? She silently asked herself, staring blearily through her tears at the gold band on Nathan's left ring-finger; another painful reminder of how what she was doing was wrong.

When did she become the type of person to sleep with another woman's husband? The questions had no answers.

Just one origin: it really was one of those things that just kind of, well, happened. The second time? She swore it'd never happen again. And the third time? A drunken mistake— but by the fourth time, there was no excuse. They both knew something was there, festering uncontrollably, and now, nearly a year later, Haley was so far gone she couldn't find the starting line. All she knew was that she was in love with him and he wasn't hers.

"What's wrong?" His raspy voice pulled her from her plaguing thoughts and she quickly brought her palms up to her cheeks to hide the tears.

"Nothing," she shook her head, "nothing at all."

His fingers found hers and intertwined them together, giving her tiny hand a gentle squeeze. "One day, Haley. I promise."

She simply turned her head to face the moonlit wall and nodded. She still couldn't look at him.

it's just another call from home

and you get it and be gone and I'll be crying

and I'll be begging you baby

begging you not to leave

but I'll be left here waiting

with my heart on my sleeve

for the next time we'll be here

feels like a million years

As if on cue, the low hum of his vibrating cellphone started to sound through the quiet bedroom. Nathan sighed and fell back against the white sheets for a second before lifting up and glancing at the name. "It's home. I've gotta go."

She waited for his quick forehead kiss, watching in the corner of her eye as he shimmied into his black slacks.

"Don't be mad, Haley. I'm sorry," he walked back over to her and knelt next to the mattress. "I know how hard this is for you and I'm sorry."

She couldn't think of anything except for one word. "Stay."

"What?"

"Stay with me tonight. Please, Nathan." She shuffled off of the bed, hit her kneels to the floor and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She clung fiercely— holding on for dear life. The thought of watching him walk out her door, once again, was something she could not bear.

"I-I can't. You know I want to but I can't." His hands fell dejectedly to his sides, unable to look her in the eyes.

"Why?" She demanded, "Why can't you stay?"

Nathan struggled to get up against her tight embrace. The crescent-shaped edges of her fingernails dug harshly into his back, but the pain of the goodbye was incomparable. His wobbly legs fought to stand straight, resembling a toddler learning to walk for the first time.

Haley slumped dejectedly onto the ground. He was leaving and nothing she could do would stop him. Hot tears streaked her cheeks and this time she didn't bother hiding them.

Pathetic. That's how she felt— how she knew she looked. Absolutely pathetic;

On the floor with her arms wound around his legs like a petulant child and one word repeatedly falling from her lips, "stay."

He shook his head sullenly and had to forcefully remove her hands from around his knees. "I'm sorry."

and I think I'm dying

what do I have to do

to make you see

she can't love you like me

Haley James broke. Right there, on her bedroom floor. Her heart might not have been shattered on the ground, but it sure felt like it. "I'm so tired of being lonely. Don't I give you what you need?"

Nathan held his hand out and helped steady her on her feet. He pulled her in for a long, hard hug as she collapsed in his arms again. Her warm tears stained his leather jacket, but all he could do was run his fingers through her hair. "I love you, Haley. You have to know that."

Her voice was muffled, "then why can't you stay with me?"

"it's not that easy, baby."

Haley hid her blotchy face in his chest, "it's not fair, Nathan. I don't want to live this way anymore. I'm so tired of this."

Nathan nodded weakly. He didn't know what else to tell her. It sucked. He knew it did. He never planned on being in this situation. He hated leaving her every time. It never got any easier.

why don't you stay

I'm down on my knees

I'm so tired of being lonely

don't I give you what you need

when she calls you to go

there is one thing you should know

we don't have to live this way

baby why don't you stay?

It wasn't fair, she realized. She never asked to fall in love with him, but damnit why did he have to do this? Every time that door closed behind him, she felt used. Haley James gave Nathan Scott everything she had— and all she got in return was half of his heart. She was sick and tired of sharing him with another woman.

"I know, baby. I wish it didn't have to be like this-"

"Then why does it have to be?" She forcefully pushed herself away from his chest. Anger flushed through her veins. "Why, Nathan?"

"Damnit, Haley," Nathan dragged his hands through his hair and exhaled heavily. "I'm married. You know that— you knew that when we started this."

Haley turned away from him, his pained eyes staring directly at her back. "I'm done, Nathan. I mean it."

He reached out to grab hold of her arm, but she shook him off as if he were a flame that scorched her skin.

"I'll stay if you really want me to," Nathan's voice quieted, but he saw her small frame start to shake when she shook her head.

"No. Stay with your wife, Nathan."

He reluctantly shuffled towards the door, afraid to look back, but when he did, his hand that enveloped the doorknob dropped.

Haley was on the floor again with tears streaming from her eyes. It broke his heart.

"If you're gonna leave, just go," she whispered, choking back on another sob. "I can't watch."

Nathan swallowed a gulp of air- probably filled with his pride- and hastily walked over to where she was sitting on the floor. Bending down, he took her in his arms, and kissed her tear stained cheeks. "I'm staying."