Here's the next chapter. I know I said that it would run through till their junior year, but this chapter was just getting so long already, and I hadn't updated in awhile, so I decided to just post this part already. Hope you like it, and let me know what you think. I'm almost finished with the next chapter so it should be up soon. Thanks!

Chapter 2: Revelations

November 2002

"So, I looked over your homework," Haley began as Nathan cringed. "No, it's nothing bad. It's actually pretty good. Just remember to proofread and you're all set!"

"Thanks Hales." The nickname didn't go unnoticed by Haley, who turned to Nathan with curious eyes.

"Oh crap… I'm sorry, it's just… I thought. I'm sorry. Oh God, I'll just go crawl down a hole and die now."

"No, no, it's alright. It's just weird… No not weird because I don't want you calling me that, but… just weird, because… I don't know why. It's not weird." Haley paused. "Is there any room in that hole for me?"

Nathan and Haley laughed at their own embarrassment.

"Ok, we're friend,." Haley said. "You can call me whatever you."

"Alright, Hales."

Nathan and Haley both smiled at their new found friendship.

"Since we're friends and all and friends shouldn't keep secrets from each other, I was just wondering, what sort of things you like to do in the summer… specifically last summer."

Haley stared at Nathan in amusement and remained quiet.

"So, no chance?"

"Really Nate, your little tricks aren't going to work on me. Heck, they wouldn't work on anybody."

Nathan smiled at the nickname. "Way to kill a dream Hales."

"If that's your dream Nathan, you really need help in more than tutoring," Haley mocked.

"Funny." Nathan responded dryly. "Oh, before I forget. Next week I have late basketball practice so I can't make tutoring after school, but I could swing by your house afterwards."

"Yeah sure, just drop by whenever. You know where it is right?"

"No, but I can ask Tim where it is after practice."

They left the tutoring center and saw Tim across the hall. Nathan started to laugh, much to the confusion of Haley.

"What's wrong with you? What's so funny?" Haley asked.

"Watch and learn young grasshopper."

"Hey guys, what's so funny?" Tim asked curiously.

"Nothing Tim. Haley was just filling me in on the summer activities and I have to say Tim, I never pegged you for that type."

Before Haley could reassure Tim she hadn't said anything to Nathan, he blew up. "YOU TOLD HIM HALEY?!"

"I did -"

"I can't believe you did that. Does the unwritten best friend code not mean anything to you? And it's not funny Nathan. I didn't willingly sign up for ballroom dancing. My mom made me."

Tim's confession made Nathan double over in laughter.

"Dude, you ballroom danced?"

"YOU SAID YOU KNEW!" Tim shrieked.

"I didn't tell him Tim." Haley giggled. "You did."

Tim stormed off in a huff, leaving the two laughing at his retreat.

"And that my friend, is how it's done." Nathan gloated.

"Well played Nathan."

December 2002

"So Nate, how's the tutoring going?" Tim asked.

"Really good actually," Nathan answered, surprised. "I mean, I knew that Haley was freakishly smart and all, but I didn't think that she could help me, you know?"

"Yah, well, that's our little Hales. She doesn't like to fail. Plus, she's freakishly smart." Tim laughed.

"Hey, I'm sorry for being an ass and ragging on you about your friendship with Haley before. She's great and easy to get along with."

'Hmm…' Tim thought. 'He seems to like he, and I think she likes him. Time for a little intervention.'

"Tim, do NOT try and play matchmaker please. She's my tutor, that's all. And we're friends."

Tim took his English book out of his locker and turned to his friend. "Ok fine. I won't do anything matchmaker-y."

"Good."

When they finished gathering their books for their next class, Nathan couldn't help, but feel anxious to see Haley in their next class. 'Fucking Tim and putting his stupid ideas in my head. You're just confusing your friendship for more. That's it.'

As they walked into their English class, they noticed Haley already in her seat reading a book.

"Aw, if it isn't our little bookworm," Tim mocked.

"Nathan," Haley began, never taking her eyes from her book. "It seems a stray dog followed you to school today. Run along little doggy before I call the pound."

"NOT cool Hales. You know how I feel about dogs."

"How could I forget?" Haley asked, turning to Nathan. "We were walking home one day and the cutest, tiniest, friendliest puppy started running towards us barking happily. Anyways Tim freaked, pushed me towards the dog and ran off screaming like his life was in danger."

Nathan began hysterically laughing at the picture Haley painted.

"You know Haley if I were you I would stop with the stories. I have a few of my own that I know you don't want getting out," Tim playfully threatened.

"Bring it." Haley challenged.

"Oh, it's already been broughten," Tim responded, complete with hand on hip and wagging pointer finger, making Haley and Nathan laugh.

Tim and Haley then turned their confused eyes on Nathan.

"What? It's alright if Tim watches chick flicks, but it's the end of the world if I do?" Nathan questioned. "Besides, Not Another Teen Movie is not a chick flick. It's a comedy."

"Sure Nate," Tim mocked. "Just admit you're a closet chick flicker."

"Whatever, ballerina," Nathan retorted.

"Hey! It was ballroom dancing Nathan. Two totally different things. Get it right."

"BOYS! Stop with the masculinity jokes. As far as I'm concerned, you're both pretty much even on the girly scale."

The teacher entered the classroom, forcing Nathan and Tim to take their seats. Nathan had trouble concentrating, which wasn't unusual. The unusual thing was that he couldn't stop thinking about Haley James.

As class ended Nathan, Haley and Tim all made their way to Tim and Nathan's lockers.

"It sucks that my locker's all the way on the other side of the school and your lockers are together." Haley complained.

"Well, you could always marry me and become a Smith," Tim suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Oh Tim. You know if we ever got married you'd become a James."

"She got you there buddy." Nathan laughed.

"Or she could marry you and become a Scott," Tim suggested.

Nathan and Haley laughed uneasily and both glared at Tim. Much to their relief the bell rang signaling the beginning of class.

"I've got to go. I still have to get to my locker. See you later guys."

Tim and Nathan were left staring at a retreating Haley.

"I'm going to kill you Tim. What the hell was that?" Nathan asked Tim angrily.

"What was what? I thought you guys were friends. Can't friends joke around with each other?"

"I am telling you right now to stop it."

"Are you going crazy Nathan? I'm not doing anything. I was joking around. You know, friends joke around."

"No Tim, what you're doing is trying to get Haley and I together. I'm going to tell you right now, it's not going to happen. She's smart… and kind… and patient… and beautiful… and perfect…" Nathan finished in a whisper.

Tim smirked as Nathan collected his thoughts.

"Do not say it Tim," Nathan warned as he walked off to his next class.

January 2003

"Where do you think you're going?" Dan asked Nathan.

"I've got a tutoring session in a couple of minutes. I've got to leave now or I'm going to be late."

"Tutoring? Get one thing straight son, the only thing you are good for is basketball."

"Shut up dad."

"No Nathan. It's time you realized it and worked to your potential. I kept my mouth shut when you didn't make varsity, because I thought you would have excelled in junior varsity. But you proved me wrong. You couldn't even make it to the finals Nathan. All you have going for you is basketball and you managed to fuck that up big time. You think Whitey's going to put you on varsity now? After you didn't even make it to the finals?" Dan taunted.

"I'm leaving now," Nathan gritted out.

Dan roughly grabbed Nathan's arm. "No you're not. I gave up my life, my career and any chance I had at my dreams because of you so the least you can do is obey me."

Nathan jerked himself free of Dan's grasp.

"The school's season might be over, but that doesn't mean that you can start slacking off." Dan lectured. "You need to work twice as hard to try and redeem that sorry excuse you called a season. I'll meet you on the court."

After hours of training with Dan, Nathan finally made it to Haley's. He was exhausted both mentally and physically, but he desperately needed an excuse to get out of his house.

Haley answered the door in surprise.

"Hey Nate," Haley greeted confused.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I just had stuff that I had to do."

"Oh, that's ok. Come on in. We can work in the kitchen."

As they reached the kitchen, Haley realized that she didn't have her books with her. She excused herself to grab her books in her room.

"Ok, so I was thinking that we should start on math, since you've been having the most trouble with it lately."

Haley waited for a response from Nathan, but received none. Haley snapped Nathan out of his trance by calling his name.

"Where'd you go just now?"

"Oh, sorry, I'm just a little tired. I had a long day. What did you say?" Nathan asked.

"I was thinking that we should start with math, since you've been having the most problems with it. You've been improving a bit with the other subjects, which is great!" Haley encouraged.

"Yeah, math sounds good," Nathan said, distracted.

"Ok. Well, how about you start by doing the problems on…." Haley trailed off.

Once again, Nathan wasn't paying attention. It didn't annoy Haley, she was more concerned. Nathan wasn't usually this distracted and he usually was on time for their tutoring sessions.

"Nathan?" Haley called out.

"Yeah?" Nathan snapped out of his daze.

"The problems? Page 236?"

"Right. Ok. Oh shit, I forgot my book," Nathan said sheepishly.

"Well, you seem a bit distracted today. Why don't we just put it off until tomorrow or something?" Haley suggested.

Truthfully, Nathan didn't want to leave. He had no where else to go and he really didn't want to be anywhere else. He couldn't deal with his parents, specifically his dad, and Tim's good intentions made Nathan feel smothered.

"No, I think that we should just continue the tutoring. Could I borrow your book?" Nathan asked.

"Sure," Haley said uneasily. She wasn't sure whether this was a good idea or not. Nathan was obviously distracted and Haley wasn't sure they would make any progress.

Haley handed Nathan her book and decided to work on her own homework while Nathan worked.

As Nathan tried concentrating on his the first problem, his mind kept wandering back to his father's words to him as they were training.

'You need to work harder at basketball Nathan because you'll never be good enough for anything else. Basketball is all you have going for you. Basketball… Not good enough… ruined life… Stupid… Waste of time… You'll never be good enough."

Nathan was snapped out of his thoughts by Haley calling his name.

"Are you sure you're alright? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."

"I'm fine Haley. Just a little tired."

"Well, we can do this another time Nathan. It's alright," Haley said.

"I told you I was fine Haley. I can do it," Nathan said a bit angrily.

"Ok Nathan, if you say so."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Nathan asked angrily. He didn't give Haley a chance to respond before he went on with his rant.

"Poor perfect Haley stuck tutoring stupid Nathan."

"That's not what I said!"

"No, you didn't say it, but you meant it didn't you?" Nathan snapped. "I'm sorry that we can't all be like Princess Haley in her magical world."

"Hey!" Haley declared. "What is wrong with you? Why are you attacking me?"

"I'm just saying what you're thinking Haley. I'm sorry that we can't all be smart like you or perfect like you. I have bad days, get off my back." Nathan knew he was being irrational in his attack towards Haley. He didn't mean to attack Haley, but he was filled with so much rage from his father, and she was just there.

"You know what Nathan? I didn't ask you to come over. You came over. I didn't ask you to stay, I told you to go home. So don't sit there and act like I'm attacking you. You have no right to say those things about me because you don't know the first thing about me or my life. I think you should leave now."

Nathan put his coat on and stomped to the door.

"Something's obviously bothering you. If you want to talk about it I'm here, but I'm not going to let you use me as your punching bag. I'm your tutor and I'm your friend, but I don't want to be either if you're just going to attack m,." Haley said.

"Whatever," Nathan responded and angrily walked out of the door.

February 2003

"Haley, I feel like my parents are divorced and I have to jump from one parent to the other," Tim whined as he sat next to Haley for lunch.

"Hey! I'm not the one who was a jerk for no reason and hasn't apologized. I don't even want an apology. I just want an explanation."

"Can't you just both sit at the same table and pretend to be happy? For me?" Tim pleaded.

"No. And no one asked you to choose Tim. That was all you. Besides, I think you should hang out with Nathan. You were his friend first and it's obvious he needs a friend."

"But what about you? I don't want you sitting all by yourself."

"Tim, I'm going to let you in on a little secret." Haley motioned for Tim to come closer. "I did have, gasp, friends before you. I know, I know, hard to believe that I had a life before you huh?"

"I know you have friends, but you don't hang out with them, or sit with them at lunch."

"Well, did it ever occur to you that I don't want to hang out with them or eat lunch with them? For your information I like to eat alone."

"No one likes to eat alone Hales."

"I do," Haley insisted.

"Nathan doesn't need me to eat lunch with him. He's got the basketball team and his little groupies, lead by Rachel," Tim said, a little disgusted.

It was no secret that Rachel had a thing for Nathan. It was actually more than a thing. Rachel wanted Nathan and she was determined to get him. She dropped not so subtle hints whenever he was around and constantly flirted. Nathan never usually encouraged Rachel, but today it seemed like he was flirting back.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be there either. What is Nathan doing anyways? I thought he hated Rachel?" Haley questioned.

"He did… I think. Whatever. Nathan's been acting weird."

"Yeah, well, he doesn't want to be friends anymore. Then I don't care what he does. He can catch something from disease infested Rachel for all I care."

"Whoa Haley, retract the claws. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous."

"Well it's a good think you don't know any better isn't it? I am not jealous of that whore. It's just Nathan. He's so different when he's around certain people. With us, he's normal and real… or at least I hope it's the real Nathan. When he's around the basketball team and his groupies, he tries to act all macho and like he's better than everyone else. I can't stand that. Choose a side and stick with it. Be a jerk or be a human being."

"He's just dealing with the politics of high school Hales. It was bound to happen. He skyrocketed in fame when he joined the basketball team," Tim joked.

"Whatever. I'm so sick all that. If he wants to be a jerk, then he can be a jerk. I'm not going lose sleep over his bullshit."

With that said, Haley walked off to her locker to prepare for her next class.

A few weeks flew by and Nathan and Haley grew further and further apart. Tim tried to divide his time between the two, but Nathan made it easier to choose a side. Nathan went out of his way to avoid both Haley and Tim. He knew he was being irrational, but he just couldn't bring himself to apologize to Haley.

Haley and Tim decided to leave Nathan alone. Well, it was more of Haley's idea. Tim tried and tried to get Nathan to talk to Haley, but Nathan wouldn't budge.

After school, Haley was asked to report to the tutoring center. As she walked in, she saw the principle and the head of the tutoring center.

"Ms. Hall, Principal Green. You wanted to see me?" Haley greeted.

"Haley, we called you here to talk about Nathan Scott. We know you are tutoring him or at least were tutoring him and he wasn't assigned to you." Ms. Hall said.

"Oh, I didn't know that we had to be assigned tutees. I'm not tutoring him anymore and I'll remember that for next time," Haley said, a little confused. She thought she could tutor anyone.

"Oh no Haley, you have it all wrong. You can tutor anyone you want. We just noticed that Nathan's grades have been slipping and we were going to assign you as his tutor. We understand that he might have told you he only needed to be tutored during the basketball season, but the players need to keep an overall C average throughout the year. So would you be willing to tutor him?" Principal Green asked.

'It's not whether or not I want to tutor him, it's whether he wants me to tutor him.' Haley thought.

"Um, I'm not sure if I could. I mean, I have a lot of students. Would it be ok to assign him to someone else?"

"We could Haley, but Coach Durham specifically asked for the best to tutor Nathan. Coach wants to put Nathan on varsity next year, but he needs to get his grades up first. But if your schedule is too full, we can assign him to someone else."

Haley thought about this for a second. She knew how much Nathan really wanted varsity and even though they weren't talking at the moment, she wanted Nathan to be happy. 'Maybe he'll start talking to me again.'

"Sure Principal Green, I'll do it."

"Thank you so much Haley."

With that said Principal Green left the tutoring center. Haley still had mixed feelings about tutoring Nathan again. She wondered whether or not he would be cooperative, or if he would give her a hard time. She decided to go tell Nathan right away that she was assigned as his tutor.

"Ms. Hall if that was all, I need to go find Nathan and tell him about the tutoring."

"Yes dear, that was all. I will see you tomorrow. If you feel like you have too many students just tell me and I can assign some to other tutors."

"Thanks Ms. Hall, but I think I'll be ok. See you tomorrow."

Haley left the tutoring center in search of Nathan. She walked to his locker and he wasn't there. Since school had ended a good 15 minutes ago, Haley decided to go to Nathan's house and see if he was there.

When Nathan got home, he was a bit surprised to find his mom passed out on the lawn so early in the day. Deb usually played to role of the loving mother and wife during the day, but let loose at night, drinking and taking pain killers. Nathan chose to ignore the fact that his mom had a problem. In the beginning Nathan blamed a lot of Dan's behavior on Deb, but after awhile he understood her need to take drugs and drink. Dan blamed them both for 'ruining' his life, never letting them forget it. For some reason Deb still loved Dan and hoped that they would eventually become the loving couple Tree Hill knew them as.

There's a lot you don't know.

And there's a lot I can't tell.

Would you think I'm crazy

If you knew me that well?

Nathan walked up to Deb, looked around to see if the neighbors were watching and shook her.

"Mom, you have to get up and get in the house," Nathan coaxed.

"Nathan sweetie, is that you?" Deb asked in a drug induced slur.

"Yeah mom, it's me. We have to get you inside. It's three in the afternoon."

"Oh my sweet, sweet boy. You always take such good care of me. I love you Nathan." Deb said euphorically.

Cause there's a lot you don't know

But you say you won't go and I'd like to believe you.

"I love you too mom," Nathan said happily. He lived for the moments when one of his parents, usually Deb, showed some feeling other than hatred and disdain towards him.

"I do love you Nathan, I do. But I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I had taken Dan's advice and had an abortion. Maybe Dan and I would be happy."

But I know there's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.

Nathan fought back tears. No matter how much Dan and Deb hurt him with their 'what ifs' Nathan still loved them. He loved them so much and hoped that one day they would love him unconditionally, like parents should.

Is it all in my head

Or somehow is it truth?

Is it something I said?

I can offer no proof.

"Mom, come on. We have to go inside now," Nathan said shakily. As hard as he fought tears began to slip down his face.

Cause there's a lot you don't know

But you say you won't go and I'd like to believe you.

But I know there's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.

As Nathan picked his mom up off the lawn, he noticed a figure standing on the sidewalk. He turned to the person and realized that it was Haley standing there, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. Nathan hung his head in shame and continued his task of trying to get his mother inside the house.

"Nathan -" Haley whispered sympathetically.

"Now you know," Nathan said brokenly before closing the door on Haley.

Yeah there's a lot you don't know

But you say you won't go and I'd like to believe you.

And I know but you say you won't go

And I'd like to believe you.

But I know there's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.

(I am the only one.)

There's no one left to save me.