AN: Thanks to: chelle2911, Nathanlvr, Lorilozz, naley23lover101, Naleylvr23, jeyton4ever, and Liz457 for the wonderful reviews! I absolutely love hearing what you guys think about each chapter, thank you so much for taking the time to fill out a review; it really means a lot to me!

Chapter 23

The rest of Nathan and Haley's weekend was spent just as blissfully as their Saturday morning. They concentrated on nothing but themselves and having a care-free weekend, to be well rested for the week at school that probably held some problems just waiting to be found. Jared would stir up trouble, as always, and Haley was really nervous about what might happen. He threatened her, got into a fight with Nathan, and manipulated her parents… She was just scared what else he could do to get her to give in. Nathan too was concerned, but both of them not wanting to spoil their perfect weekend, neither of them brought him up, or anything that had to do with him.

"What're you thinking about?" Nathan asked, noticing that Haley had been drifting off into thought while they were watching MTV on Sunday.

"Oh, nothing," Haley lied; she had been busy wondering what Jared would do next.

"Come on, tell me." Nathan persisted; he wanted her to be able to talk about it. He knew it was for the better; when she had something on her mind and was that deep in thought, she would stay in her little place thinking all day. This way she could get whatever she was worried about off her chest.

"OK," Haley said, realizing that it was better to talk about it with Nathan. Because now, although Haley didn't like the fact, Nathan was part of it too. "I'm just…. Worried…" Haley said slowly.

"Well, clearly," Nathan said with a hint of a smile on his lips, making it easier for Haley to let loose and just say what was on her mind.

"I'm worried that this whole thing with Jared will just get worse." Haley blurted out. There, she had said it. Nathan didn't look surprised, because he wasn't. He himself had been wondering what Jared's next move was, he just didn't say anything because he didn't want Haley to worry about it, which she had been anyway.

"Well, maybe we should stop him," Nathan said and Haley gave him a weird look. "I mean, it's not like he's going to stop on his own. Maybe we should do something about it, instead of just letting him do all this."

"How're we supposed to do that?" Haley asked, curious. Nathan was famous for being a bad-boy. If he wanted to beat Jared up so badly that he couldn't do anything wrong anymore or something, Haley didn't want any part of it. That wasn't her thing. And that would be just like stooping down to Jared's level.

"Hales, I'm sure I can find a way to stop the guy-" Nathan started to say.

"Nathan, no, we can't do that. It's wrong." Haley said and Nathan nodded; he understood. "I mean, maybe he's done. Maybe he realized that he's not going to get to us and that he should just give up." Haley said unconvincingly to both Nathan and herself. Who was she kidding? Jared wouldn't give up until he won. Nathan and Haley both knew that very well, but neither of them talked about the subject any further.

---

On Monday morning, Nathan and Haley met the rest of the gang in front of the school. As it had been most days when Nathan and Haley got there, they saw Brooke and Lucas making out and Jake and Peyton doing the same thing right next to them. It became somewhat of a morning ritual.

"This is getting a little old," Nathan joked as Haley and him got to where the others were. The couples broke apart, as always and said hi.

"Where've you guys been all weekend? I tried calling like a million times," Brooke said. Nathan and Haley smiled and looked at each other.

"Yeah, I kind of turned my phone off…" Haley said as if it wasn't a big deal, "So, um, what'd you guys do this weekend?" Haley asked wanting to change the attention from her and Nathan to the others.

"Nothing," They all replied, not very innocently looking at their significant others and blushing. Then they all burst out laughing and walked to class.

---

But there wasn't as cheerful an attitude in class as there was before hand. The whole time Jared kept staring at Haley and really creeping her out. She wanted to wave or smile or something, but all she had the guts to do was pretend like she didn't even notice. Although, but Jared's grin, she could tell that he knew that she saw him. Haley wished Nathan was there. He's good at the evil-glare thing, he could totally out-stare Jared. But alas, Nathan wasn't in this class…

After class, although Haley rushed as fast as she possibly could to get to her next class, Jared caught up to her.

"Hey, Hales," He said, with that same tone that send a shiver down Haley's spine, and not in a good way either. "Wait up."

"Don't call me that," Haley warned turning around to face him. But she wasn't fooling him. She wasn't tough, and she didn't sound like it.

"What is it only Nathan who can call you that? That is so adorable," Jared said fakely. "Oh, wait, did I say adorable? I meant disgusting. What're you still doing with that guy, Haley?" Jared said.

"I would like you to please, stay out of my love-life, ok? In fact, just stay out of my life!" Haley said, fed up.

"Wow, he's really got you. I mean, I knew you were naïve, but I didn't think you'd stay under the spell of Nathan Scott's charm for this long. You're not that stupid." Jared spat out. Haley groaned. This guy was going way too far, and it was hard to keep her cool.

"You know, maybe I am. Maybe I'm that stupid. I'm talking to you, aren't I?" Haley said. "Look, stay out of my life! I don't know how else to say it. Leave me and my boyfriend and my family alone." Haley said, trying to sound tough.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that. See you around, Hales," He said with a smirk as he put his designer sunglasses, which he got out form his pocket, on. Haley wanted to yell that we were inside! But she was just glad that he left her alone, so she left it at that and went to her next class.

During her next class, she couldn't even concentrate on the lesson. She was just thinking about her conversation with Jared. He had said that he couldn't leave her alone. Why on earth is that? Why did he care so much about ruining her life? Was he just that evil? I mean, there wasn't even anything in for him in it? She just wished that there was something she could do to prevent it. All she could do now was warn everyone.

---

"Ok, you guys," Haley said when everyone was grouped together at lunch, "I just want to warn you guys about Jared. This guy is going to do anything to get me to move in with my parents and/or break up with Nathan-"

"It's true," Lucas interrupted, "That guy is crazy," He said. It was true, after what he had witnessed him fighting with Nathan at the River Court, Lucas pretty much figured that this guy had issues.

"Yeah, so if any of you guys see him, just like, run away, or pepper-spray him or, something, ok?" Haley said.

"Haley, relax, it can't be that bad," Peyton said. She and Brooke and Jake seemed like they all thought that this wasn't a big deal.

"Have you ever met him?" Nathan asked. Brooke, Jake, and Peyton both shook their heads.

"Not really. But I've seen him before. Doesn't he know that wearing sunglasses inside is so last-season?" Brooke joked. She and Peyton and Jake had seen him around school and it was pretty obvious that he thought he was way more popular than he actually was. But he was filthy rich, and that's how he got the attention.

"Apparently not," Haley said nodding in agreement to her. "But you guys, seriously, just promise me that you'll be careful…?" Haley said seriously.

"Yeah, sure," They all promised and Haley felt the tiniest bit better, but not really. She was still really scared for all of them and for herself.

---

Haley was at Karen's Café after school, working and Nathan had just finished working. He was walking back home, thinking about Haley, when he stopped dead in his tracks. He groaned at the sight of Jared standing in his way.

"So, what do you stalk Haley one week, than me the next or something?" Nathan said, when he got closer. Jared smirked and didn't look the least bit intimidated, which Nathan thought was weird, since he had totally beat Jared in their fight.

"Look, man, I'm not here to fight or anything." Jared said.

"That's not a surprised. Considering I kicked you're a$$ last time," Nathan said, and Jared didn't disagree with him, he just nodded along, but still didn't look intimidated at all. "What're you here for then?" Nathan asked finally.

"I just want to explain one thing to you." Jared said. Nathan gestured for him to continue. "Have you thought about college?" This struck Nathan as a weird question. What seventeen-year-old hasn't thought about college?

"Uh… yeah, sure, I've thought about it…" Nathan said. "Look, I'm not really in the mood for small-talk, especially not with you, so can you please get to the point?"

"Right, well, Haley's parents. You know, the ones that she left for you? They have a plan. A great college. A great career. She could be one of the most successful women in the United States with the path they planed for her. Except there's one thing in her way: You." Jared said. Nathan took this all in. He didn't really have a plan like that. And it was true that with the way that his family was kind of hanging in there money-wise, college wasn't a realistic option. But it was Haley's decision for her to move out, and Nathan was going to respect that.

"I only want what's best for Haley," Jared continued, "And her parents are really nice people that can do good things for her. But you're crushing everything that they planed for her. You can understand why they don't want you in her life anymore can't you?"

"What are you, Haley's parents' messenger or something? Who are you to tell me all this?" Nathan asked.

"I'm just trying to help," Jared said. Help? Nathan thought, Yeah right. "Look, I'll pay you."

"Excuse me?" Nathan asked shocked.

"I'll pay you to step back. Do the right thing." Jared said.

"If it's the right thing, than why would you have to bribe me to do it?" Nathan spat. He couldn't believe this guy? Did he really think he could put a price on Haley?

Jared didn't say anything for a while. He got out a check-book from his pocket and wrote on it than handed it to Nathan. Nathan didn't take it so Jared just dropped it at his feet. "Think about it," Jared said and then walked away. Nathan was too shocked still to say anything, but after a while he came back to his senses and bent down to pick up the check. It read: 2,000 dollars. How could Jared just through two thousand dollars on the ground? Nathan had never held that much money in his hand. It was not a good feeling.

---

Nathan looked at the time: six o'clock. Haley would be home when he got there. The whole way home, Nathan thought about how to tell Haley about it. Or even if he should tell her. There was even a time when he considered doing what Jared had asked of him. He wanted Haley to have everything she deserved, and be happily with her parents again. But he was selfish too, he wanted Haley in his life and he didn't want to let her go.

Nathan got home and opened the door. Haley was in the kitchen cooking. She started cooking for him and sometimes his mother when she was there, almost every night. Nathan thought it was amazing how she could go to work, which was basically two hours of cooking and being around food, and then go home and cook there too. But that was just how Haley was. Amazing.

"Want to go shopping?" Nathan said, randomly. He figured the best way to bring up the check in his hand was to say stupid things like that.

"What?" Haley asked, confused.

"It's on Jared." Nathan said, handing her the check.

"What the hell is this?" Haley asked getting annoyed. "Jared gave this to you?" Haley couldn't believe this. Why would Jared give Nathan two thousand dollars? To get him to convince her to move out or something? This was unbelievable.

"He ambushed me when I was walking back for work. Said a whole bunch of shit, and then handed me that. Said he would pay me to break up with you." Nathan said, scared for her response. Haley's mouth fell open.

"What a jerk," She said, thinking out loud. Tears swelled in her eyes. Nathan got up hurriedly and went over to her.

"Hey, Hey…" Nathan said trying to calm her down, "Hales, I would never do that, you know that, right?"

"No, I know… It's just…" Haley said, "He has to be stopped. I mean it, once and for all. We need to do something."

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Nathan asked.

"I have an idea," Haley said, knowingly. Nathan smiled.

"That's my girl," He said, proudly. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I know you would never break-up with me for money." Haley said sincerely, looking lovingly up at Nathan. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Besides, you're worth way more that two thousand dollars," Nathan said smiling and he leaned down and kissed her sweetly.

AN: ok guys, that's where I leave you! Thanks so much for reading! What's Haley's plan? Review and find out!