Hey everyone! Thanks for reading. I know that everyone's getting impatient wanting to know what really happens with Nathan and Peyton but the beginning chapters are really important in understanding where Nathan and Haley are coming from, why they aren't together but still love each other very much. So, here's the new chapter, hope you like. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 3: Let Me In

Haley stood on the sidewalk silently weeping and wishing that Nathan would come out of his house. When it seemed obvious that he wasn't going to come back, Haley slowly walked away. She didn't consciously know where she was going, but her feet led her to Tim's house.

She rang the doorbell and was greeted by Mr. Smith. "Haley, what's wrong sweetie?" he asked concerned.

"Is… is Tim here?" Haley asked in a small voice.

"Yeah, I'll get him for you."

Haley stepped inside the house and stood, waiting for Tim. She heard Tim's frantic footsteps descending down the stairs. She was so busy trying to not break down in tears that she didn't realize Tim was leading her to sit on the couch.

"Haley…is everything ok?" Tim asked, scared.

"He's… he's so hurt. She's so mean Tim… why does she… why…" Haley wanted to hurt Deb like she hurt Nathan.

"So you know…?" Tim questioned.

"You've known and you haven't done anything?! WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ANYTHING TIM?!" Haley screamed.

"I tried. Believe me I've tried. He doesn't want help. He wants to pretend it doesn't happen so I stopped bringing it up. He's my best friend Haley and it kills me that his parents are jerks. But I can't do anything," Tim said sadly.

"Why? Why is she so mean to him, Tim?" Haley asked dejectedly.

"It's not just her Haley. Dan's ten times worse than Deb is." Tim hung his head. He was probably the only one in Tree Hill that knew of the Scott situation.

"What?" Haley asked, disbelievingly. She couldn't believe that Dan treated Nathan worse than Deb had.

"He… he sets impossible basketball standards for Nathan. He constantly puts him down, telling Nathan that he's not good enough. That he'll never be good enough and that his life was ruined when Nathan was born."

"But… but… they seem so happy. One big happy family," Haley said more to herself than to Tim.

"They have to. He's the freaking mayor Haley. How do you think Tree Hill would react if they knew what a monster Dan Scott really was?"

"Well, they should know!!"

"You can't tell anyone! Think about it. If Tree Hill knew the real Dan Scott they would replace him as a mayor and who would Dan take his anger out on? Nathan."

"Well, we can go to the police or something." Haley considered.

"No, Dan would just deny it and Nathan would be too scared to back us up. And since Dan and Deb don't beat Nathan, it would be our word against theirs. Don't you think I've thought all of this through? I've thought of every possible thing to help and went to Nathan with them, and he snapped at me. He told me to just leave it alone. So that's what I did."

"We can't just leave it alone Tim. We have to do something."

"I know that Haley. They're his parents, Haley and he loves them. He loves them so much Haley. After all the crap they put him through, he loves them."

"But he shouldn't. They don't deserve him or his love."

"We only have three and a half years left in high school. Nathan's REALLY good at basketball, so good that I'm positive that colleges are going to be throwing full scholarships at him. That means that he won't need Dan or Deb for anything. Just three and a half more years."

"You've thought about this a lot haven't you?" Haley asked.

"He's my best friend Hales. I care about him."

"So what do we do now? Do we confront him? Do we try and get him to talk about it?"

"There's nothing we can do. Nathan's going to pretend that nothing happened. He knows you know now so he probably figured that you came to talk to me about it. He's going to try and avoid it, try and pretend that nothing's happened and I think that we should just let him."

Before Haley could protest, Tim continued, "I tried to talk to him about it and he stopped talking to me for a couple of months. Who knows what he would do if we double teamed him…"

"I can't just ignore this Tim. Don't ask me to do that," Haley pleaded.

"I'm not telling you to ignore it. Just… just let him come to you. Don't push him."

"I've got to go Tim. I'll see you at school."

"No Haley. You can't do anything. Just leave it alone. Please." Tim was practically on his knees begging, but she had already made up her mind. She was going to go try and talk to Nathan.

Haley left Tim's house and walked towards Nathan's. She wasn't sure how to approach him, with the subject, but the ten minute walk gave her time to think.

She reached the Scott house and took a deep breath before she rang the doorbell.

"Hey Haley," Nathan greeted casually.

"Hey Nathan. Listen, about what happened-"

Nathan interrupted Haley before she could finish. "Nothing happened. My mom slipped and fell on the lawn and I was helping her up. What do you think happened?" Nathan insisted.

"Nathan, I don't care about keeping up your family's appearance. I'm talking about what your mom said to you. Are you alright?" Haley asked, genuinely concerned.

"I'll tell you this once Haley," Nathan began with venom in his voice. "You don't know shit about me or my family, so don't act like you know or even give a fuck about what's going on. Butt out."

"I just want to know if you're ok."

"And I want you to leave me the fuck alone. Forget about what you thought you saw here today. Why don't you run to your little boyfriend and discuss it? Isn't that what you were doing before you came here?" Nathan asked.

"Listen, Nathan, we're just worried about you. We want to help."

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR GODDAMN HELP DID I?! Nothing happened, so get the fuck out of here before I call the cops."

"And what are you going to tell them Nathan? That your friend was worried about you because your parents are mentally abusing you? Because that's what they're doing Nathan. It might not be physical abuse, but it is still abuse!" Haley challenged.

Nathan's eyes flashed with anger as he spoke to Haley. "You don't know the first thing about my life Haley. LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE. I don't want or need your help. Go ahead. Tell anyone you want what you think happened. No one's going to believe you. My father's the fucking Mayor of this town? He could ruin your family in a heartbeat so I'd be careful what you do Haley," Nathan threatened. "Now get the fuck off my property. You're not welcome here." Nathan slammed the door and stormed up to his room.

Haley dejectedly walked back to Tim's. She couldn't understand what Nathan was thinking. Why would he defend his parents?

"WHAT DID YOU DO HALEY?!" Tim screamed. "I told you not to go over there. You just couldn't leave it alone could you? God, you might have just made things worse."

Haley remained stoic. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to help."

"I'm not mad Haley. It's just...We can't push him. He needs to come to us when he's ready."

"But can't we tell someone? Your parents! We could tell them!" Haley suggested.

"HALEY! Have you been listening to a word I've said? Anything we do WILL make things worse for Nathan. And he won't back us up on this. It will be our word against theirs. Just leave it alone," Tim pleaded again.

"I can't just leave it alone Tim! I want to-" Haley couldn't finish her sentence. 'Help him? Be there for him? Love him?' She thought. She wanted to do it all and more. More importantly, she wanted to save him.

"Three years Haley. It's just three more years. Please, that's all I'm asking. Three years."

Haley nodded her head. She knew they should do something more, but she didn't want to push Nathan away even further. After her last stunt, she wasn't sure he would talk to her again. But she was determined to help Nathan with his grades, helping get him onto the varsity, eventually helping him get out of this town and away from his parents. She would do whatever it took to get him out from under his parents.

Two Weeks Later

"What are you doing Haley?" Tim questioned as he and Haley approached Nathan after school.

"Look Tim, the reason I was at Nathan's house that day was because Principal Green asked me to tutor Nathan. Coach Durham wants to put Nathan on varsity next year, but he won't be able to because Nathan's GPA isn't high enough. I'd pass him off to another tutor, but I want to tutor him."

"God Haley, not this again. I just got him to start talking to me again. I told you not to push him." Tim warned.

"I'm not going to push him. Nathan doesn't need to know that Principal Green asked me to tutor him. I'll just tell him I was forced to tutor him. That way, I can still be a part of his life. I just need to know he's ok."

"Fine, but when this all blows up in your face you're all by yourself ok?"

"Whatever. Now scram. I'm going in. Wish me luck."

Haley walked up to Nathan and waited for him to acknowledge her presence. When he didn't, she figured she would have to be the bigger person.

"Hey."

"Hello Haley. Come to make some more crazy accusations? I can assure you right now, Mr. Whitman wasn't verbally abusing me. He was just talking to me," Nathan commented.

"Look, I'd really like it if you could stop being an ass for a couple of minutes. Ms. Hall asked me to start tutoring you again. I just wanted to tell you."

"I don't need a tutor thanks. And if I did, you'd be the last person I'd want tutoring me."

"It's not your choice to make. Coach wants your grades up, you need a tutor," Haley insisted.

"Well, I'll find someone else then." Nathan concluded.

"No can do. Coach specifically requested Ms. Hall assign me. So when are you free?" Haley asked, hoping Nathan wouldn't question anything further.

"Fine. I've got to get home and train, but I guess after school most days. I'm not sure right now. I'll get back to you." Nathan left in a hurry, leaving Haley standing there triumphantly. It wasn't much, but at least they would be spending time together and talking.

The next day at school Nathan approached Haley.

"Monday, Wednesday and Friday's after school in the tutoring center. No talking about personal things, no talking period unless it's school related got it?" Nathan demanded.

Haley almost didn't agree, but the look on Nathan's face told her that he would try and find another tutor unless she cooperated. If this was all he was going to give her then she would take it.

"Ok."

"I'll see you in the tutoring center later. Goodbye." With that said Nathan was gone.

Haley was excited. She knew it was a matter of time before her and Nathan's friendship would be renewed.

After school Nathan stood outside the tutoring center watching Haley for a minute. In his heart he knew that Haley meant well, but he didn't want her knowing everything. So if being an ass to her meant she would leave him alone that was what he was willing to do. Even if it ended up hurting him in the process.

"Nathan, you're here."

"Yup," he responded. "Let's get started. We only have an hour and a half. I have important things to do today."

Haley set some problems in front of Nathan and started on her own work.

I've been watching you and all you do

For quite some time

Knowing all the ins and outs of you

Should have known what was on your mind

From time to time, Haley caught herself staring at Nathan. She just wished they could go back to the way they were.

"You know it's impolite to stare right?" Nathan asked.

'Crap! He caught me.' "I wasn't staring Nathan. I was just seeing if you were working."

"Whatever," he said.

But all the world is spinning round and round

Inside my head tonight

I will fall into the darkness

And I fear I will never see the light

For weeks Haley tutored Nathan and received the exact same treatment as the first session. She was getting a little annoyed with Nathan's attitude towards her and had decided to call him out on it.

Nathan walked into the tutoring center feeling a lot better. He and Tim were slowly building their friendship again. He missed hanging out with Haley… and Tim. He was also getting a little fed up with hanging out with the cheerleaders and the jocks. Another reason he was so happy was because he got an 89 on his math test and couldn't wait to show Haley.

So let me in

All that I wanted from you

Was something you'd never do

So let me in

"Listen, before you say anything let me get this out." Haley nodded, signaling Nathan to continue.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk to you these past few da- weeks. You didn't deserve it. But I'm not going to apologize for what happened before. It happened, I'm not going to talk about it so, let's just move on alright?" Nathan asked.

"Ok." Haley agreed reluctantly.

"Alright then. Let's just forget about the past month and just start over. Friends?" Nathan asked stretching his hand out to her.

"Friends." Haley said, shaking his hand.

"So, I have a surprise for you!" Nathan said excitedly. He pulled his math test out of his bag and handed it to Haley.

"89?!" Haley screamed as she jumped into his arms.

Oh please tonight

Don't let this end

Tonight

I'll fall

Nathan caught her with ease and spun her around. He basked in their contact, willing it not to end. Haley looked down at Nathan as he slowed down with the spinning and caught Nathan's eye.

Nathan set Haley down and coughed in embarrassment. Haley looked everywhere but Nathan's eye.

"Um.. I mean... That's great! You did really great," Haley congratulated.

Through the light the darkness seems to be

So very strong

How does one alone against the world

Find the strength to carry on

"Um... Thanks." Nathan blushed. He wasn't used to encouragement and it made him feel good. He was proud of what he accomplished, and he was glad he was able to share that moment with Haley.

What happened to the way we used to love

It seemed as though life had just begun

But now that love has come and gone to fade away

Like the setting son

"So, since you did phenomenal on that test, I think we should go celebrate," Haley suggested.

"Sure! I guess we can skip a tutoring session," Nathan joked.

Cuz you won't let me in

All that I wanted from you

Was something you'd never do

From then on, their friendship had slowly rebuilt. Tim was glad they were all friends again, but noticed the little looks they would give each other when the other wasn't looking. He knew it was a matter of time before they admitted their feelings to each other, but Tim being the impatient person he was decided to take it upon himself to see to it that Nathan and Haley got together.

So let me in

Oh please tonight

Don't let this end

Tonight

April 2003

"So Nathan," Tim began, sitting down for lunch. "I know it's been a couple of months since we rescued you from the evil clutches of the Whore-asaurus, also known as Rachel. I gotta ask, have you been properly treated for all STDs you might have gotten by being in her presence?"

"Funny, Tim. You guys, she's not so bad... I mean, when she's not flirting with me, she's actually pretty nice."

"Yeah, to you. To the rest of us, she's a mega bitch!" Haley exclaimed.

"Sorry I brought her up. I really don't want to talk about her, especially during lunch," Tim said.

Haley's mind wandered while Nathan and Tim talked about "manly" things. She thought about how everything changed since the beginning of the year. She thought about how she, Tim and Nathan formed an odd friendship.

It was all that I wanted from you

It was something you never knew

Let me in

But she mostly thought about Nathan and how he became such a big part of her life in such a short time. She thought about all the times they spent together, sometimes studying, mostly goofing off. She thought about how he made her laugh and smile. She thought about those rare moments when he would smile, genuinely smile, and how that made her smile.

But not tonight

For this is the end

As she though about all this, a realization struck her. 'I like Nathan Scott!'

Tonight

I fall

Anyone get the Roswell reference? LOL

Song: Save Ferris - Let Me In