Thanks to Lorilozz and OTHFAN23V for reviewing! I hope you both like this next chapter!

I started to back away from the door. "No, no, no!" I whispered.

He started to come in. "Haley, I can explain everything."

I shook my head and ran past my guest, running for my bed. I was so confused. What is he doing here? Did he send me those flowers? Is this even possible? "Hales?" I turn towards the door to see Brooke. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head no. "Brooke, I know that guy," I started to explain and she sat beside me. "We used to date in high school," I said and she rubbed my back gently. I continued, "And for the past four years, I thought he was dead."

She looked towards me in shock. "Why don't we go out there and see how he explains that one, okay?" I sighed and nodded, following her out.

We found Lucas holding Nathan back from Chris who was holding his left cheek. "What did you do to my girlfriend, man! What did you say to her?"

I walked over to them, touching Nathan's arm. He turned to me, completely relaxed now, and pulled me towards him. "Are you okay? What did he do to you, Hales?"

I lightly pushed him away and focused on Chris. "How is this possible? How are you here right now?"

He walked over to me. "Haley, I can explain."

"So start explaining, Chris. I haven't heard any explanations," I said, anger evident in my voice, tears streaming down my cheeks. "You were dead, or so I thought. Tell me what really happened."

"Haley, everything was getting so hard. We were getting so close and I got scared. I had to get out of it," he said, touching my arm.

I pulled away as if I were burned. "Don't you dare touch me! How dare you say that to me and then try to comfort me!" I yelled. I stared right into his eyes, my hatred burning through. "Let me get this straight. We were getting to be too happy together, or so you say, and you decided 'hey, the easiest way out of this relationship is to fake my death', is that right?" my voice kept raising, now I was yelling, "I told you things I've never told ANYONE! I told you about Peyton, my family! When things were getting too hard for you, you decide your done? How could you do that to me?" I started to break down. "How could you tell me you loved me and then go and do something like that?" I screamed and then I started to hit him. "YOU ARE THE REASON I'VE BEEN ALONE FOR 4 YEARS! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" I yelled and fell to the floor, hysterical.

I felt someone take me into their arms. I wrapped my arms around the body to find it to be Brooke. She rubbed my back and rocked me. I heard Nathan say, "You need to leave, man."

I looked up to see Chris staring at me. I got all the energy I could muster. "LEAVE, CHRIS!" I screamed and fell back on to Brooke. I heard the door close and I just let myself cry. I was trying to let everything sink in. Chris wasn't really dead and Brooke, Nate, and Lucas were starting to see what I didn't want them to. I looked up to see Lucas and Nate standing over Brooke and I. I shifted my gaze to Brooke, who wiped the tears from my face. "Well," I started, "Guess you just found out some stuff about me," I tried to joke, giving them a small smile.

Brooke stood. "Come on, Haley. Let's sit on the couch while you tell us everything, okay?" I took her offered hand and stood up, moving to the couch. they all sat where they could see me.

"Okay, but let me just warn you, this isn't pretty. I will understand completely if you want to leave afterwards," I explained and nobody said anything so I continued, "I always thought that I was cursed to hurt those closest to me. It all started out when I was little. See, my parents didn't care much early on in my life. When I was about to turn nine my father lost his job which, suprisingly, brought my parents and I close together. They were starting to appreciate me more and spend time with me. Just when I was starting to become happy, they got into this terrible accident and were killed.

"I was put into foster care, bouncing from home to home, when finally a couple wanted to adopt me. They had a daughter the same age as me and so we became best friends. Peyton and I were inseperable and her parents became my own. One day Anne was rushing home and she got into a car accident and she didn't make it. Larry went into depression, lost his job and couldn't afford to keep Peyton and me, so the state took me back. I haven't heard from either of them since.

"Then comes high school, or the icing on the cake as I call it. This is where I knew I was cursed. I started dating Chris. He seemed nice enough and he claimed to really love me. We were together from beginning of junior year until just before the end of senior year. That's when he staged his own death. Yes, you guessed it. A car crash. So, now I figured I was cursed. I stopped talking to people, shut myself out and I've been alone ever since," I finished quietly.

It was quiet for a while before I decided to speak up. "Listen, I know what you're all thinking so I'll save all the drama. Let's just go back to how things used to be, where I was invisable to all of you. I have too much baggage to deal with and I care about you all too much for you to deal with it," I said and stood up. "You can just let yourselves out, I'm gonna just head to bed." I started to leave, but I felt a hand on my arm.

Nathan's hand. "Haley, I care about you a lot and I'm not gonna let you ruin this relationship before we can even start it! I want to be with you, even after everything you just told me. Hell, that makes me want to protect you even more. I'm not letting you just give up on me like that, Hales," he said and pulled me into a hug.

Brooke stood and took his place. "Tutor girl, where would I be without you? You've become my best friend. I feel more close to you then family. You're very important to me and I agree with Nathan. Your story makes me want to be there for you more," she said and hugged me fiercely.

I turned to face Lucas and smiled. "What about you, Luke? After you've heard all about me, do you still want to try and be friends?"

He smiled back and pulled me to him, hugging me. "Haley, they're right. I want to help you, too. Everyone's got some sort of baggage. It might not be as extreme as yours," he joked and I smiled slightly, "but we all do."

It got quiet again and Brooke broke the silence. "So much for that movie."

I laughed. "Put in it, Brookie. Guys get some pizza. I just want to forget everything that just happened. Well, for now at least," I said and they all did as asked. I sat on the couch in Nate's lap, content for the moment, but knowing it wouldn't last much longer. Not with Chris Keller in town.

Let me know what you think... Tiffany