Chapter 23b

Haley knocked on the door as a tall brunette peaked into the window before opening it. "Haley?"

"Hey Quinn," Haley greeted as she entered the home of her eldest sister.

"Not that I don't love ya Baby James but what brings you to Jersey?"

"A bus."

"You always were a funny one little sis, but seriously," Quinn stated giving Haley a skeptical eye.

"Stuff went down with Taylor among other things and I just needed to get away. You said whenever I needed you that you were only a call or bus ride away. Well, surprise! Here's the bus ride away."

"I know Haley, I know. I just thought there might be a little more notice that's all. So how long are you staying?"

"That's the thing. I don't know. I figure I can take up to two weeks off from school and then there is our Winter Break at the end of February, conveniently two weeks away so it could be up to three weeks. But it could also be less. I just need to clear my head."

"Two weeks off from school? Can you afford that Haley?"

"I'm ahead of everyone in my class by a year and a half due to the fact that I'm pretty much a loner and school obsessed. So two weeks of missed classes won't harm me."

"Fine, but after break you have to go back. Besides, what's so bad on a seventeen year olds plate that you need to 'clear your head'?"

"If only you knew Quinn."

"I've got some time. I mean it's a weekend so I won't have to work till Monday so if you feel like sharing I'm all ears," she said sympathetically.

"Thanks Q, but I kind of just want to lay down. Where can I stay?"

"Down the hall past my room I made a little guest room for well, guests. You can stay there."

"Thanks. And do me a favor?"

"Yeah Baby J?"

"Don't tell Taylor I'm here," Haley stated to her sister who just nodded in response.

She made her way to the small room at the corner of the house and made herself comfortable. And then when Quinn finally yelled that she was running out to the store Haley let herself cry. She cried for the cruelty of Taylor, and what on earth she had done to deserve someone so horrible in her life, let alone her own flesh and blood, but at the same time she cried for Nathan. For all the confusion she must be causing him right now and the pained look that is embedded in her brain when she told him she was leaving. It's not that she didn't love him. Because she did, more than he'd ever know. But it was the fact that she needed to get away and refocus. Everything had been so much simpler when it was just her, little Haley James. When she didn't need anyone. Now she's still the same person, it's just that she needed someone. She needed Nathan Scott. And she wouldn't forget that either. She just needed time to think and go back to the Haley James who was strong. Not the one who is weakened by her problems.

Nathan knocked on his cousins side door hoping he was home. Now that Haley was gone there was no one else to lean on. It's like how it was before he stumbled upon the infamous journal. After several knocks a tired looking Lucas opened the door.

"Look what the cat dragged in," he stated opening it wider for Nathan to come in. They hadn't spoken much since Nathan told him about his relationship with Haley.

"Hey man," Nathan said solemnly, something Lucas took notice of.

"What's the matter?"

"I've got some good news for you."

"Okay… then why do you look so sad?" Lucas questioned.

"Haley broke up with me."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry man."

"Really Luke? Cause you seemed really thrilled when I told you about us," Nathan stated sarcastically.

"Listen, a lot of the stuff I said I didn't mean. Me and Brooke were rocky at the time and I was just kind of pissed that the girl I had been trailing for a while totally looks through me and found something in you."

"Thanks I think?"

"Whatever man it made more sense to me. Anyway, looks like you're not the only one single now."

"You and Brooke broke up?"

"Last night."

"I'm sorry man," Nathan stated seriously.

"It's okay. It's kind of been a joke the whole time. We never really fit right."

"I got you man. But doesn't it still suck anyway. I mean, breaking up."

"I guess so, but now I'm free to prowl. And so are you," Lucas said perking up. "How about we hit up Tim's brother's party to night. I mean, we are both freely single and there are ladies lining up for us."

"For you maybe Luke, but I'm not like that with me. I loved Haley, and she loved me. I know it was a really short time but we connected and I'm going to wait for her. It feels like shit but I'm going to wait for her."

"Whatever you say man. You can still party though even thought you whipped, right?"

"I'm not whipped Lucas."

"That you are little cuz."

"Whatever. I'm not having this conversation with you. But yes I can still party. Just give me the time and place."

"Meet me here at eight and I'll drive us over."

"Alright man, peace," Nathan said before opening the door and leaving Lucas' house. Once he got home he picked up the mail and walked into the kitchen. Sitting on top of the pile was a postcard marked the day Haley left. He flipped it over to read more.

Nathan,

I

- Haley

"What the hell?" Nathan said confused. "I? She could say anything she wanted. Explain to me better why she left and all she has to say is I?" He continued to look at the postcard, utterly confused, but then stopped and walked upstairs to put it in the bottom of his sock drawer because the more he thought about it the more confused and frustrated he got.

After closing the drawer he decided to take a quick nap before the party so he wouldn't be tired from his lack of sleep lately, but before doing so he decided to give his Hales a call. He knew she told him not to, but he couldn't help it. He loved her whether she was ready to deal with that fact or not. After a couple rings he reached her voicemail, "Hi you've reached Haley. Congratulations. Leave a message, bye."

Haley was awoken on her bed after falling asleep from her crying fest by having her phone ring "Like You" of which Nathan had programmed for his ring tone. As much as she wanted to talk to him, she needed her time away. After a couple minutes her phone vibrated again alerting her of a new voicemail; from Nathan of course. This time however she couldn't stop herself, she needed to hear his voice.

"You have one new message. First unheard message. Hi Hales it's me, Nathan. I uh, got your postcard. Don't really know how to respond. Please clue me in. Or better yet, come home. My court hearing is in five days, also known as this Friday. I'd love for you to be there. Always and forever. Bye."

"Postcard?" Haley said confused. Nathan must have gotten something wrong. Her confusion however didn't stop her from shedding a tear and repeating the three most important words in her life into the darkened bedroom, "Always and forever."

a/n: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to update ASAP. Now about the postcard thing. Hope you like that idea because it's a storyline I'm going with, one of the several tricks up my sleeve but just to clarify it's not totally my idea to send these cryptic postcards. I read the book "Charmed Thirds" and something like this was used in it and I thought it would be good for my story. I tweaked the idea quite a bit but I got the idea of cryptic postcards from that book. Just throwing that out there so I don't get all the credit and ppl think I stole someone else's work lol. P.S. If you haven't read that book you should! Anyways, leave replies on what you think about my story and I hope you liked the much needed update!