A.N: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. A big kudos to all of you. So anyway here you get some Naley as promised and all I have to say is keep hope lol.

Don't forget to review and tell me what you think. As for the next chapter it might take a bit of time because I'll be really busy next week but I'll do my best to update asap.

Chapter 24: I'm going to stop pretending I didn't break your heart

Haley wasn't sleeping and knew she wouldn't be able to anytime soon. She had just flown back from Palo Alto with Chris and it felt so strange to be back in her home, in her town, which such a big secret growing inside of her.

Haley couldn't help worrying and thinking that maybe Chris was right, maybe she should come clean about the baby, but a part of her just couldn't. Not yet.

Chris was totally and furiously opposed to her desire to hide her pregnancy. He even gave her an ultimatum, come clean before then end of the summer or he will come clean for her.

"How can someone so smart can be so stupid? " Chris asked angrily when she told him she didn't want to tell Nathan he was the father of her baby. "Are you going to pretend it was a very good mechanical doll?" He added with sarcasm. "Geez Haley you just gained a whole new level of moronic!"

Haley let a growl of frustration escape and tossed angrily in her bed.

Her mother was so proud of her achievement she didn't want to disappoint her and tell her she was pregnant. As for Lucas, he was just acting civil with her and didn't miss an occasion to rub in her face all the plans he had concerning Duke with Nathan in the coming fall.

"I don't care if you think I'm betraying you," said Chris seriously in the plane. "I'm ok giving you this amount of time to be prepared, but if Nathan doesn't know by August, I'll tell him myself." He added stubbornly. "I swear to god I will Haley." He told her shaking his head sadly. "I'm ready to loose you as a friend Haley to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life." He added looking into her eyes to show her he meant every word.

Haley agreed to come clean before the first day of school, but she still had a problem accepting this pregnancy herself. She didn't even tell Sam the truth or anyone else yet.

Haley stood up from her bed and decided to go for a walk. Maybe the cool air of the night would help her find some sleep. Haley put on the Stanford sweatshirt Chris gave her and quietly sneaked out of the house.

She left the house quietly, trying not to make a noise, and took a deep breath while shivering under the fresh night breeze.

She started to walk knowing exactly where she will end up. After a while she stopped and looked in front of her with a smile.

The river court, She thought happily, feeling some kind a peace growing in her.

It was one of her special places, and her brothers too. She missed their relationship so much. She sat on a picnic table and look at the river, while instinctively wrapping her arms around her chest as to hold herself together.

She heard some steps beside her and smiled. She knew Lucas would join her. He was her brother after all. She turned around with a smile on her face, which faded almost immediately. It wasn't Lucas standing in front of her no…It was Nathan with a basketball.

Haley stood up looking down. She wasn't ready to let him see right through her now, and she knew he was the only one able to do so.

She quietly nodded a sort of Hello walking pass him to leave.

"Is it always going to be like that?" Asked Nathan not even bothering turning around.

Haley turned around surprised to hear that much pain and resignation in his voice.

"What are you talking about Nathan?" She asked honestly confused. She sighed, upset against herself for wanting to know.

"You avoiding me…. Acting like I don't exist in your world." He added his voice full of pain. He still kept his back on her.

Haley kept her eyes on his back for a while too surprised to even answer. She finally closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't want to hurt him.

"No Nate, it won't always be like this." She said nicely keeping her eyes closed. "I just need some time to heal and avoiding this, you, well it's the best for me," she added honestly, even if it hurt her to finally say it to him. "I need to keep what I got left of sanity and…and being far away from you it the best I can do." She slowly opened her eyes. Nathan was now facing her his eyes dark blue, she remembered it was always like that when he was experiencing strong feelings. She saw him amercing an approach, but raised her hand to stop him. "Stay where you are please." She asked in a begging tone because she knew that having him too close in the state she already was would push her over the edge, she would fall into his arms.

Nathan froze on the spot. He expected many different tones, but begging was defiantly not one of them. What did I do to her? He thought sadly a strong feeling of self-loathing taking him over.

"We really need to talk." He said nicely. He thought he would have more time to prepare his speech, but there she was standing in front of him in a oversized sweatshirt. She seemed really tired, really frail, so fragile…so broken. He wanted to protect her.

"I know we do…" She said honestly, "But not now…not yet," she said shaking her head side to side.

"It's really important Hales I -" Started Nathan wanting to get all this out.

"But there's only one thing I want to tell you now. It's thank you." She said cutting him off completely ignoring his interruption.

"You thank…. ME?" He asked with disbelief.

"You gave me what I always dreamed of and I didn't know it." She said mysteriously

Nathan's look darkened. "Stanford…." He whispered.

"Well...for one part," She said elusively. Thinking more that the baby she was carrying was the best thing she had. Her new goal… "Thank you Nathan." She said again "And we'll talk…. We'll talk soon enough," she said walking away without a glance behind her.

Nathan stood there, knowing that his big secret would have to wait a bit longer. He chickened out. He was scared to be rejected by her. He wouldn't be able to bare it. "You don't understand…I still love you…you're still my heart. I need you back…I want to breath again," He whispered once she was clearly out of earshot in the dark night.

Soon enough… they both thought

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"Please all make a warm welcome to this years Valedictorian, Haley James!" Announced Principal Turner a roar of applause breaking out around them.

Haley stood up and looked at all the faces full of hope and pride to be there today. Haley took the time to study each of her friends and her brothers' face; once she found Nathan's face she instinctively brought her hand to her belly. Your baby… She thought with nostalgia and pride.

"It looks like we made it didn't we?" Asked Haley with a laugh while the others eagerly nodded and laughed with her. She took a deep breath. "Today is the end of an Era and you all should be proud of what you have accomplished." Said Haley while the stress was leaving her. "Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives and it can be scary for some of us to face the big unknown, but never be scared of the unexpected because it's usually from these moments that the biggest joys come from." Added Haley looking around thinking about the baby she was expecting. "Face the future bravely, look straight in front of you and whatever road you take only the goal matters, so please don't forget to enjoy the ride. Live every moment to the fullest and don't be scared to try and love, because life is way to short to live it with regrets. As for the unexpected part remember that life doesn't give you the people you want," she said quickly looking at Nathan before concentrating her eyes on the wide audience again. "It gives you the people you need to help you, to love you, to leave you and to make you the person you were meant to be." Added Haley looking at Chris and her mother now.

Nathan couldn't take his eyes off Haley. She was just stunning, glowing, and she didn't know how right she was on her speech. He was missing her so much, his heart aching at every one of her words. She was his heart and she stopped believing in it.

"Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future…stop trying to figure out precisely how we feel, stop deciding with our mind what we want our heart to feel…Sometimes we just have to go with whatever happens, happens. Well…" Added Haley with a laugh. "All this rambling just to tell you to be proud of what you accomplished so far and just be who you are and say what you really feel because those who mind don't really matter, and those who matter don't mind! So now, as a last word enjoy the ride life takes you on because nobody said it will be easy, but if you take the opportunities thrown at you I can promise it will be worth it!" Said Haley sincerely taking her hat off and throwing it in the air as the rest of the graduation class did the same.

Karen was a bit hurt that her daughter decided to spend so little time home, but she didn't discuss her decision. She knew her daughter didn't say the whole truth about her break-up with Nathan, and she thought that taking some distance between the two wouldn't hurt.

Once Haley was done and that the students were dismissed she walked down to Peyton and Lucas with a smile. She was going back to Palo Alto the next morning after arriving to Tree Hill just the day before.

"Hey!" Said Haley nicely crossing her arms on her chest.

"Hey…" Said Lucas pouting. He was still angry at Haley since he found out she wouldn't be spending the summer in Tree Hill with her friends and he was still pretty upset against her for dumping Nathan and choosing Stanford.

Peyton slapped Lucas' arm quite nastily her eyes glaring at him.

Haley sighed shaking her head. "Come on Bro…Let's smile today…We won't see each other for quite some time and…"

"And whose fault is that?" Asked Lucas aggressively. "Not mine that's for sure!!"

Nathan walked to them, he wanted to hear Haley's voice, and he wanted to look into her beautiful brown eyes.

"If this is the way you want things to end between us…" Said Haley sadly. "Fine…Take care of yourself…." She added looking successively to Lucas Peyton and Nathan. "I guess I'll spend my last day home with the people who really want me around," she added looking at her mother who was chatting with Brooke, Jake and Chris. "I'm so proud of you guys…All of you," she added sadly looking at Nathan from the corner of her eye.

Nathan felt an electrical shock going through his spine, but he just smile. She was proud of him and that was all that really mattered.

"Well…you should be pleased someone is proud of you!" Said Peyton harshly to Lucas. "Because as far I'm concerned I'm not!!" She added shaking her head with disappointment. She looked nastily to Nathan too. "Maybe you don't know the whole story…Maybe you need to open your eyes!" She added to Lucas' attention.

"Maybe you're the one who needs to open your eyes!" Added Lucas stubbornly looking at Peyton with certitude.

"You know what? Whatever dude!" She added with clear annoyance. "I hope you two dill holes have fun," She said before turning her back and joining Haley little group.

"Don't worry man...I've got your back," said Lucas nicely patting Nathan's back, seeing sadness in his eyes while watching Haley laughing.

"That's the problem bro…Maybe you shouldn't," said Nathan nicely. "We'll have to talk soon," he added ready to tell the truth to Lucas. He hated how Lucas was treating Haley and even if she was the one who wanted it that way, he preferred to lose his best friend then to see this sadness in Haley's eyes again.

"Yeah, but as for now…I need some air!" Added Lucas leaving the room.

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The next morning they were all reunited to say bye to Haley and Chris, who were flying back to California.

Brooke promised her best friend to come spend a couple of weeks before going to NYU with Jake.

Karen hugged Chris tightly. "Take care of my baby." She told him sadly.

"I'll protect her with my life," said Chris sincerely looking into Karen's sad eyes.

"I know you will," said Karen nodding before concentrating her attention on Haley again. "Take care of yourself baby." She said stroking her daughter's cheek. "I'm so proud of you and I'm sure your dad is thrilled too." Added Karen with a smile. "You were his little Stanford princess," she said chuckling. "You're destined for greatness Haley James…" Added Karen kissing her daughter forehead affectionately.

"So I've been told," said Haley trying to joke, looking around to see if her brother was there. She couldn't believe that after what happened he was stubborn enough not to come and say bye. Well…so much for unconditional brotherly love she thought sarcastically. It's worth as much as Nathan's always and forever. She added to herself shaking her head.

"I'm sorry baby," Said Karen seeing the sadness in Haley's brown eyes. "I really thought he would come." Lucas didn't spend the night at their house. He just texted his mother saying he was fine and that he would be back home the next day. "I guess you are both as stubborn, but I'm sure he'll come around and come to visit with me this summer." Added Karen with confidence knowing that she was about to make her son see hell for not saying goodbye to his sister.

Peyton hugged Haley tightly not wanting to say anything. She drove Jake and Brooke to the airport and she couldn't believe that Lucas bailed on Haley like this. He was going to regret it, she promised herself. Now was the time for him to face the truth.

As soon as Haley and Chris' plane left Peyton said bye to the others, Karen said it was not a problem for her to drive Jake and Brooke home. Peyton said she had something important to do, she didn't specify that what she had to do was hurting her boyfriend and maybe break a few of his bones.

Peyton drove to Nathan's beach house. She knew that when Lucas needed a good hide out that's where he went because he had a set of keys.

Peyton saw his car and parked beside it. "You're so going to regret it…" She said walking in. Lucas had the bad habit of not locking doors.

Peyton quietly walked up and found Lucas fast asleep in one of the bedrooms, she looked around and found a basketball on the floor.

"Hey James!" She shouted throwing the ball as hard as she could at Lucas.

Lucas shouted with pain and jumped out of bed. "Are you insane?" Shouted Lucas with anger and disbelief.

"No, but you're a moron!" Said Peyton red with anger, her hands on her hips. "I didn't want to mettle, but geez you're so stupid and blind!!" She groaned with desperation. "Enough is enough!!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Asked Lucas angry too now.

"Your sister that's who!! We both know she's not the one who broke up with Nathan!" Said Peyton seriously.

"She…" started Lucas.

"She what?" Started Peyton cutting him off. "I don't know why she told you she did, but if you have only half a brain you would have known she was lying!" Said Peyton standing straight and crossing her arms on her chest. "Maybe you need to open your eyes and see the facts! If you had just thought for a minute you'd have known she was lying!"

"I would have if I didn't know some facts that you obviously don't so please!!" Said Lucas aggressively. He hated that Peyton didn't trust his judgment. "Don't mettle in things you don't know about, and maybe you're the one who needs to open their eyes!!"

"Oh Yeah?" Asked Peyton with defiance shining in her eyes. "Well just think for a sec…." She added starting to pace the room. "Haley told you she received her letter for Stanford about a week before most Universities deadlines! She had to receive the acceptance, before but she told you she was going to Duke! And…and she got a freaking tattoo with Nathan's jersey number the day before they broke up so please!!" Shouted Peyton thinking she was totally winning the argument.

"Yeah? Well HE bought an engagement ring the day before so suck it young lady!!" Shouted Lucas regretting immediately to have revealed Nathan's secret out of anger. That was the reason they went to the mall. When Nathan told Lucas he intended to ask Haley to marry him Lucas freaked out saying they were too young and all, but Nathan said they would wait after college to get married, he just wanted her to be his forever and Lucas agreed seeing all the love in his eyes.

Peyton sat on the bed in shock. "He was…. I…It doesn't make any sense!" She simply said with confusion.

Lucas sighed with frustration and sat beside her. "I know it doesn't, but you see why I believed Haley right?" He asked nicely finally realizing that Peyton was only trying to help. "Nathan wouldn't have broken up with her after what he told me…after what he bought! It doesn't make any sense!" He added putting a hand on her back.

"Yeah, but…Haley broke down at Brookes' place telling her that Nathan just dumped her! Apparently she was so hurt that even Jake got teary eyed!" Added Peyton like she was talking to herself. "That's why they're so cold with him."

"Yeah it doesn't make any sense…" Added Lucas thinking too, but he finally froze when it finally sunk in. "Wait! My sister got a tattoo??" Asked Lucas finally realizing what Peyton said.

Peyton grimaced. "Yeah…." She said uncomfortably. "You weren't supposed to find out, but she got the number 23 tattooed on her lower back."

"Haley wouldn't do something that permanent and crazy with over analyzing it." Simply stated Lucas. "She wouldn't break up…." He added seriously with a darker tone picking his mobile up and dialing Nathan's number.

As soon as Nathan picked up Lucas went straight to the essential. "We need to talk man…" Said Lucas trying to sound cool.

"Yeah…About what?" Asked Nathan

"She never broke up with you did she?" Asked Lucas taking a deep breath.

"No she didn't," finally admitted Nathan in sad tone.

"I'll be over in 20 minutes," Said Lucas hanging up. I'll know the whole truth by tonight he said giving a quick kiss to Peyton.

"Please stay calm Luke!" Said Peyton with worriedly. "I'm sure there 's a pretty logical reason even if I can't think of one right now." She stood up while he threw his jeans on and grabbed his shirt. "They are both clearly hurt don't add any more distress ok?" Asked Peyton nicely.

He looked at her and smiled. "I love you Blondie…do you know that?" He asked kissing her forehead.

"I had a feeling," She told him with a smile before he raced out of the room.

In next chapter: It's only life…better take things as they come.