Okay so I know I updated like yesterday but when I saw all of the reviews I got it made me smile and I wanted to update again for you guys. You're the best!! I had alot of fun writing this chapter, even though it isn't really a funny chapter, lol. I don't think that made sense. Anyways...I hope everyone enjoys it;)

It's that time of year
Leave all our hopelessness's aside
If just for a little while
tears stop right here
I know we've all had a bumpy ride.
I'm secretly on your side

Get me outta here
Get me outta here
Get me outta here

"Just For Now" Imogen Heap

Chapter 17

"Calm down," Haley mumbled to herself. She really didn't understand the butterflies that were surfacing in her stomach at the thought of what would happen later that night.

Yet she found that she couldn't deny she was excited. And Nathan had agreed to let her have her way with him. She had expected him to get offended and angry, but he had responded just the opposite.

"Don't get your hopes up," Haley mumbled again to herself. "He just wants your body. It's not like he really cares about you."

"Who really cares about you?" Brooke's husky voice interrupted.

Haley jumped about a foot and squealed, which caused Brooke to look at her like she was crazy.

"Why do you keep sneaking up on me?" Haley growled. That was the second time today, and Haley found the little action beyond annoying.

"Awe, did I scare little Haley," Brooke joked.

Haley glared in return.

"So I know you think you're a horrible person and all for stuff you've done," Brooke continued," but I didn't think it would make you resort to having conversations with yourself."

"I wasn't talking to—"Haley stopped as she realized she had been talking to herself. She sighed. "Look, you're really nice, Brooke, and you have no idea how much I would like to be your friend, but I just can't."

"Well, why not?" Brooke asked. "Why are you acting as if you don't need anybody?"

"I don't have time for friends. I have a lot going on right now, and I have a bunch of decisions to make. There are just so many things that people don't understand, so many things I don't understand. I don't have a choice."

"You always have a choice," Brooke whispered fervently. "Listen, Haley, it seems like you've been through a lot of hard times. I understand why you'd want to close yourself off, but that's not going to help anyone, especially not yourself."

"You don't understand," Haley whispered. "I've done things. I'm not the person you think I am. If you knew the truth, you'd never speak to me again."

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"

With a sigh, Haley looked down at her hands, which were now shaking. Haley felt Brooke grab one of her hands and take it in her own.

"You can trust me, Haley," Brooke promised, and somehow, Haley knew she was telling the truth.

Haley took a deep breath before she started, "About six months ago, my dad and Nathan's dad came up with a plan to make sure neither of the two had more power over their business. They figured it would only be fair if the person to take over came from each side, meaning Nathan and I. To secure the plan, they wanted Nathan and me to have a child.

At first I didn't think I could do it. I wouldn't do it, but they had my mom. I know it doesn't make what I did okay, but I couldn't let my mom suffer any more than she already had. My father was so—he would beat her and she—I just couldn't take it anymore. The screams—her screams—they were so terrifying…"

Haley didn't continue. She was crying too hard now, and she couldn't control herself. Brooke carefully took Haley into her arms.

"What did you do, Haley?" Brooke whispered calmly.

"I-I-I r-ra-raped him," Haley choked, crying even more hysterically now. "Dan said he w-would take care of e-everything and all I had t-to do was p-perform. I had to. I d-didn't have any other ch-choice. They h-had my mom. I didn't w-want to do it, though. I-I swear I d-didn't."

"I know," Brooke said soothingly, smoothing down Haley's now wild hair.

Haley looked up at her with tortured, pleading eyes. "You have to believe me. I didn't want it. I didn't want any of it."

"It's okay, Haley," Brooke promised. "I know you didn't want it. I believe you. Everything's going to be okay."

"I'm so tired Brooke," Haley whispered, closing her eyes. "I'm so tired of feeling empty. I just…I just want to take it all back. Everything. All the pain and hurt and anger. He was so mad. He was so mad at me…He hates me. I hate me…"

Brooke wiped the tears that were falling from her own eyes as she looked down at the broken girl asleep in her arms.

"Everything's going to be okay," Brooke repeated her earlier words, more to herself than to Haley.

When she first heard what Haley had done, her first reaction was shock. The shock wasn't from Haley's actions, however. It was from the fact that Nathan had forgiven and fallen in love with her without knowing the truth.

"Promise me something," Brooke heard Haley mumble. Her eyes were still closed.

"What is it?" Brooke asked softly.

"Don't tell Nathan," Haley whispered before she drifted back to sleep.

"I promise," Brooke whispered, the tears flowing steadily once more.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

When Haley woke up, she felt embarrassed for the way she had acted earlier with Brooke. She had been such a baby. Brooke probably thought she was unstable or something.

Brooke's words had given her a new perspective, though. If Brooke had understood, why wouldn't Nathan? Maybe he would forgive her if he knew the truth. Maybe things would be better and she might actually get to keep her child if he knew the truth.

These thoughts led Haley to Nathan's door. She knew she was being hopeful, but the way Nathan had been acting with her lately made Haley believe that he would understand why she did what she did. It made her feel like they could be happy together, and maybe, just maybe, they could raise their child together.

"Here it goes," Haley whispered to herself as she raised her hand to knock on his door.

The door opened slowly, and when Nathan popped his head out, he looked confused. "Haley? What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come until tonight."

"I know," she said nervously, "but I have to talk to you about something. It's important."

He just smirked as he opened the door to let her in. Once the door was closed, Haley found herself pushed up against said door with Nathan's face buried in her throat.

"I knew you couldn't stay away from me for longer than an hour," Nathan teased.

Haley laughed. He was in a good mood; this could work. She slowly pulled herself away from him.

"Haley?" he questioned at the weird look in her eyes.

"Nathan," Haley breathed. "There's something I've been holding in for a long time, and you just need to know the truth."

"Okay," Nathan laughed. "What is it?"

"Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met? Right before I started to undress in front of you?" Haley asked him.

His face turned hard. "Haley," he said warningly.

"Do you remember?" Haley interrupted him. "Please, Nathan. It's important."

With a sigh, Nathan answered, "You said that you didn't want to do this. You said you didn't have a choice and neither did I."

"What if I told you there was a reason I said that," Haley whispered, staring intently into his eyes. "What if I said I really hadn't had a choice?"

"What are you talking about, Haley?"

"That night, our father's had told me of a plan they had for us. They said they wanted us to have a child together so that the business would be fair," Haley said.

Nathan's eyes were still confused. He didn't understand what she was trying to tell him.

"They had my mom, Nathan," Haley whispered. "They said that if I didn't have sex with you, they would beat her. My father's hurt my mom before, and I just couldn't stand for—"

"What are you trying to change?" Nathan interrupted.

Haley looked up to see concealed anger in his eyes.

"N-nothing," Haley stuttered. "I just thought you'd—"

"You thought I'd what?" Nathan seethed. "You thought this little story would make everything okay? Well it doesn't. I told you before not to give me excuses."

"But Nathan," Haley cried. "They had my mom. I told you they were going to—"

"Save the tears for someone who cares," Nathan screamed. "You think you can just come in here and try to turn everything around with some false story? You can't just tell me that everything I've believed was wrong. "

"It's not false," Haley said. "Please, believe me."

"Why should I?" Nathan sneered.

He stared into her eyes for a few moments, nothing but the sound of their heavy breathing filled the room.

"Get out," Nathan whispered, looking down.

"Nathan," Haley begged. "Will you just—"

"I said get out," Nathan roared. His eyes were black, the same color they had been the first night they had met.

As tears flooding her vision, Haley stumbled to the door and was about to leave when she heard Nathan call her name. She looked up hopefully.

"You're presence will be removed from this place when you have the baby. My baby," Nathan said roughly. "There's no way in hell you'll ever see it after that."

Haley felt her heart break in that moment. She felt herself drifting, fainting, slowly being taken over by the darkness. Her sobs were uncontrollable now, and she fell down.

She heard her name being screamed, though it sounded far away. All she could feel was the relief of knowing it would soon be over, like a dream.

She felt a hand petting her head, but she continued to sob and thrash. Her world was falling apart, nothing was okay anymore. She just wanted to be free from it all.

"Haley," she heard a worried voice say. She felt her arms shake and saw someone standing over her. It was too blurry to see who it was.

"Haley," the voice was familiar. "Haley, baby, are you okay? Haley, please get up."

"Nathan?" Haley whispered. What was he doing here? Where was she?

"Haley," the voice sang. "Baby, please wake up. Haley."

"Nathan," Haley whispered. "What's going on?"

"Haley," he breathed in relief. "You scared the hell out of me. You were having a bad dream."

"What?" Haley asked, paralyzed. What was he saying? Everything that just happened wasn't real. That didn't make any sense.

She felt herself become enclosed by Nathan's strong arms, but she still couldn't believe he was here with her, holding her. He was supposed to hate her.

"Nathan," Haley whispered. "Is it really you?"

He chuckled. "Of course it's me, silly. Where else would I be?"

His face buried itself into her neck, just like in her dream, except this time it was real. He was real. And he didn't hate her. Haley felt herself smile, tears gathering in her eyes once again. He was still with her; he didn't leave her. Everything was okay, if only just for now.

I know, I'm evil, but I had to plant some uncertain thoughts in Haley's head. I hope everyone liked this chapter though. Please review!

Love,

Sadie