A/N: Chapter 9!!! I want to take this time to say a HUGE thanks to all my reviewers. You guys are what keeps me going, so thank you all SO much. Anyways, here's the next chapter, please leave a review.
Disclaimer: One Tree Hill and it's characters don't belong to me.
"Haley? Is that you?"
Haley nodded, smiling at the woman that stood before her.
There were tears in the woman's eyes as she pulled Haley into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"It's been so long." She whispered.
Haley simply nodded, "Four long years since I've been here. And I'm thinking now I should have just stayed away."
Karen raised her eyebrows. "Sit down, Haley. I'll get you a coffee and then we can talk."
Haley took a seat on the couch and Karen returned, cup of coffee in hand. Haley accepted it with a smile as Karen sat down beside her.
"Now tell me, what's wrong?"
Haley took a sip of her coffee, "Nathan ran away from home 6 months ago. I hadn't seen him or talked to him in all that time. He lost his job, and lost his mind apparently, leaving me to take care of James. This is the first time in 6 months that I haven't been with James, because he goes everywhere with me. I can't afford a babysitter. But Chase offered to take him for the afternoon, and I just couldn't say no, especially after what I've been through in the past two days."
"What happened?" Karen asked, a look of concern in her eyes.
"Well let's see. I show up in town for Whitey's funeral, and I needed a place to stay. So I found Brooke living at mine and Nathan's old apartment and she said we could stay with her for as long as I needed because I didn't have the money to leave town again. I was happy because something was finally going my way. But then Nathan showed up, because Brooke had offered him a room earlier, and he had said no. But he showed up anyways. So he's been a real jerk to me the whole time, and Brooke was trying to get us back together and..." But she just couldn't keep going. She burst into tears at the thought of Rachel being anywhere near her husband.
"And what, Haley?" Karen said, placing her hand on Haley's shoulder.
"I saw him kissing Rachel this morning." Haley said quietly, holding back the tears that wanted so badly to pour down her face. But she wouldn't let them.
"Like father, like son." Karen muttered, just quietly enough so Haley couldn't hear her.
Nathan still hadn't moved from the steps. He was so confused about all that had happened in the last two days. He had gone from never wanting to see Haley again, to realizing he still loved her, to kissing Rachel. He still couldn't believe he'd done that. He didn't even like Rachel. Why did he have to be such an idiot? He buried his face in his hands, knowing that Haley would never take him back, not in a million years.
"Excuse me."
Nathan looked up, and hated what he saw.
"Why the hell do you have my kid?" He asked, getting right in Chase's face.
"Because Haley asked me to watch him." Chase said slowly, "I told her I'd bring him back here."
"Look, Haley is mine and so is James, so back off." Nathan said threateningly.
"I think you've..." But Chase stopped as Nathan grabbed James and ran down the street, leaving Chase standing there in shock.
"Hello." Peyton muttered as her eyes fluttered open.
"Finally." He sighed.
"Something wrong?" She asked.
He nodded. "While you were sleeping, I got a phone call from a Jake Jagielski asking if you wanted
to go out Friday night. He thought I was you."
Peyton blushed, "I'm sorry. He came by here earlier, and he, he just kind of, kissed my cheek. I had told him that we were over, because at that point we were, and I...I don't know Luke. What do you need me to say?"
"Do you love Jake?"
"What?"
"Answer the question Peyton. Do you love Jake Jagielski."
"I love you, Lucas."
"That doesn't answer my question Peyton."
"I don't know." Peyton whispered.
"When you figure it out, you let me know." Lucas said as he got up off the couch.
"Lucas wait." Peyton yelled but it was too late. The door slammed shut and he was gone, and there was nothing Peyton could do about it.
"Brooke open up!" He exclaimed.
The door swung open and there she was.
"What do you want Chase?" Brooke said folding her arms and glaring at him.
"I need your help." Chase said quickly.
"Why would I help you?"
"Because I was watching James for Haley and Nathan took James and ran. We have to find him or Haley will kill me."
Brooke's jaw dropped. She quickly grabbed some shoes and ran out the door.
She was going to find James if it was the last thing she did.
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