Chapter 12c

Haley got up from her bed to open the door feeling pretty annoyed at whoever was knocking since she was about to fall asleep and the person who was there was most probably Taylor, someone she definitely did not want to see. However, her annoyance soon melted away once she saw who it was.

"Nathan," she gasped seeing his figure standing there in front of her, the butterflies she had been trying to ignore lately violently tickling in her stomach.

"Hey uh, sorry to come over so late, but I just finished reading what was in the folder and I couldn't just call you. I had to see you. I knocked on your front door but nobody answered so I just let myself in."

"Nathan…" Haley said, a blush coming over her face and the emotions she had been wrestling with all day threatening to spill out of her little body. "Thank you."

He looked at her, just noticing how vulnerable and fragile she looked at this point in time. All he wanted to do was hug her, wrap his arms around her little body and make her feel like everything will be alright. But he couldn't. He didn't want to cross the line because he didn't want to jeopardize their friendship, especially since she'd already let him in much further than he'd expected.

"I'm so sorry Hales," he breathed, looking her in the eyes. iHales/i, they both thought simultaneously to themselves, questioning the new nickname, but liking the intimate feeling it brought between the two.

"Don't be Nathan. It's not yours to be sorry for. It's a crummy thing that happened and something I'd hope stayed in the past."

"I know, it's just... I can't believe they'd do something like that to you. Your boyfriend and your sister!" He said, seeing a sadness run through her eyes.

Haley looked at him, emotions running a mile a minute, and then quietly stated for him to come it. She took a seat on her bed, her back against the headboard and her feet scrunched up so she could wrap her arms around them. She patted the patch of bed next to her indicating for him to come sit next to her. He cautiously made his way over and took a seat. "So I guess you're probably wondering..."

"Wondering what?"

"Why I gave you all that."

"Well, yeah. Maybe. Okay, a lot."

"There's been some new developments dealing with all that. Things I can't deal with alone, and things that I feel like you're the only person who will understand."

"Why?"

"One thing, is that well… I trust you. As surprising as that is, I do. When you read my journal you broke down my walls and I let you in. No one has gotten that far in since Chris. So you should feel honored yet cautious because my trust is something you don't want to break. Also, the feelings you have for your dad, both the embarrassment and annoyance is something I feel towards me sister, so I feel like you can relate to me. And…"

"And…"

"You're the only person who knows."

"Well I didn't know until today."

"Yeah, but you knew something bad happened from all the random references in the later half of my journal. GiGi, the only other person I trust, doesn't know about any of this. When I broke up with Chris she just thought it was your standard thing, when really it was anything but."

"Hales… have you been dealing with all this alone for the past three years?" He stated, making note of that name which just seemed to keep popping out of his mouth, iHales/i.

"Pretty much. I mean, my parents found out about it, but it's kind of this 'Lord Voldemort' no one speaks of it kind of a deal. So it's been just me against the world until you came along."

"Well then I'm glad I did. You shouldn't have to go through something so devious and hurtful alone."

"I know. I know. But I guess you're probably still wondering…"

"Wondering what…"

"Why bring all this up now? Why three years later decide to dig it all up."

"Not going to lie, that exact question has flown through my mind."

"Well like I said before there have been some startling new developments…" she began, tears threatening to spill out at any second.

"It's okay Hales. I'm here for you," he said, placing a hand on the knee she had her hands wrapped around.

"Lately uh, lately I've been noticing Taylor getting up really early, and coming home really late," she said as she began to sniffle. "And she graduated from college in December so she's fresh out and has no job, so I was curious as to what she was adjusting her schedule for. When I asked her she uh, she blew me off and made her way out the door."

"Okay…" Nathan said, still confused.

"So uh, I decided to follow her this morning. She always leaves at six so I had enough time to before school to go, and what I found was not at all what I was expecting." The tears were now running down her face, and Nathan could tell things weren't getting any better. "I followed her across town to a street a couple over from yours… Chris Keller's."

"Oh Haley…" He said, thinking that was the worst of it.

"No, Nathan. There's more. I stayed there for a while, watching her through the window, because it was weird that she went there considering Chris is away at his musical academy, and what I found was the most shocking thing I've ever found in my life," Haley began, now entering a fit of sobs. "She… she… she was holding a baby. Mrs. Keller brought a baby out, looking about the age of 2, maybe a little older, and Taylor was holding it and playing with it and giving it kisses. The way a mother would her own child. And that's when it all clicked. That baby… that baby… THAT BABY WAS TAYLOR'S."

"Oh my god," was all Nathan could muster, struck by the shock of what Haley had just told him.

"I thought it was horrible the fact that my sister even slept with my boyfriend, but the fact that she got pregnant from it, which by the way is now a constant reminder to that incident for the rest of my life, and hid it from me… I just. I can't believe it! What did I do to deserve a life full of lies and hurt?" She exclaimed through her sobs.

Nathan wrapped his arm around her and brought her towards him, she laid her head against his chest; her tears drenching his shirt. "Shh… Hales. You didn't do anything to deserve this. But as the saying goes, bad things always happen to good people. But don't worry Haley James, you're a very strong person whether you see it in yourself or not, and you're going to get over this."

"I don't know if I can Nathan."

"You can Hales, you can. Does Taylor know that you know yet?"

"No, I heard her come in before, but I couldn't hold my emotions enough to face her."

"Oh. Well, if you need back up when you tell her, I'm here for you," he said, giving her a little squeeze in his arms.

"Thank you Nathan," she said, no longer crying, calming at just his touch.

"I have a question for you…"

"Okay…"

"I'm not trying to be smart of anything but, uh. How did you not know Taylor was pregnant?"

"Well, at the time all of this happened she was transferring from Tree Hill Community College where she was a sophomore to UNC. So once she went away I never really saw her. I'm still not sure if my parents even know about the baby considering Taylor isn't exactly on the best terms with them and she was never really around during her breaks now that I think about it."

"Oh, I see. Man, she's quiet the deceitful one. She could be giving my dad a run for his money."

"I'd say it'd be a pretty close race," Haley replied, stifling her first chuckle all day. Nathan looked down at her with her tearstained face, puffy eyes, messy bun, and now a small smile, and smirked to himself, feeling good that he was able to give her some happiness in a messed up situation like this. However, the reality hit her again and a whole new wave of tears began streaming down her face.

"Hales, I really am sorry. I can't believe all this happened to you. I wish there was something I could say or do that would make this all better."

"But you already are. Just sitting in your arms makes me feel safe, and eases the pain. So it may not exactly be a night and shining armor's way of helping me, but you are."

"Hales…"

"Nathan I'm serious," she said, looking over at the clock and realizing how late it was. "Stay with me tonight Nathan?"

"I don't know Haley, we've never really done anything like this before. And besides won't your parents care?"

"Nathan, please... My parents aren't home their going on a RV tour across the country, and I want for just one night to not feel vulnerable. You are like my security blanket and I need you. You're like my protection from reality."

"Alright. I'll stay. I'll protect you Hales, always and forever, you know that right?" He said making his hand into a fist shape and bringing it over by her.

"Right. Always and forever my friend," she said bringing her hand up to bump fists with him.

For the next half hour Nathan continued to soothe Haley until she finally fell asleep. He looked down at her fragile looking body, watching her rise and fall with each breath, gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head, simply stating, "I'll always be here for you Haley James," and then drifted off to sleep himself.