3 months later
Haley was done saying she was pregnant because Nathan had taken her to the doctor for a check-up and there was no baby. Ariel was thrilled, although she knew Haley was going to keep trying to get Nathan back.
"The past little while has been pretty hectic, hey!" Ariel looked up at Nathan and nodded. They were sitting in the library during there spare. Ariel was writing her valedictorian speech that she would have to make in less then a month. "So how much have you written?"
"Like nothing, oh God this is hard. Why couldn't they have picked Brooke, she's way better at talking then I am. What am I supposed to say 'Good Luck in the future I Hope you all succeed' that sounds so bo-ring!" Nathan laughed and kissed her forehead.
"You'll think of a great speech, I know it." Ariel nodded and looked around. She saw Haley sitting by herself at a table, watching them. She gave Ariel a glare when she saw her looking at her. Nathan saw what she was looking at and frowned. "She keeps calling me and I'm ready to get a new number, seriously."
"Just ignore her, anyways tonight's Brooke's party which is at my house. She's so happy about turning 18. Do you know what I realized, in a few months we'll all be off at different colleges. That's sad." Nathan nodded and stared at Ariel. "What?"
"We still going to the same one?" Ariel smiled and nodded. "So is it Duke or what?"
"Yup, I know you want to go there so bad, so Duke it is. I mean like I don't care where I get schooling, as long as I don't sit on my ass for the rest of my life doing nothing." Nathan nodded and kissed her on the lips.
"Haley wanted to go to Stratford. I'm glad you are willing to compromise for me." Ariel nodded and kissed him again.
"I love you and I want to be with you, so wherever you go, I go." Nathan smiled and kissed her on the lips. A book was slammed on the table, causing them both to look up. Haley was standing at their table glaring at them. "What?"
"Nathan, why are you with this tramp. She slept with Chris you know and they have a secret relationship going on, even ask him." Nathan rolled his eyes at Haley and stood up.
"Leave, I don't want you to come around here anymore. I do not love you." He grabbed his stuff and Ariel's hand and left the library. Ariel was so sick of Haley, she just wanted her to leave them alone. All of a sudden Ariel heard a loud bang and felt Nathan's hand drop from hers. There was another bang and she felt a shooting pain in her side. She turned to look at Nathan who had gone white. She felt woozy and then everything went black.
"Ariel, wake up hun. Please just wake up." Ariel slowly opened her eyes but shut them again in pain. She felt someone take her hand, so she opened her eyes again. Brooke was sitting there, tears running down her face. She smiled when she saw her eyes were open. "Hey mermaid, you're awake."
"What happened?" She asked hoarsely. She was still confused, the last thing she remembered was seeing Nathan's face.
"Honey, you and Nathan were shot. By Haley." Ariel looked at her wit fear in her eyes. "He's in a coma."
"What?" Ariel started to cry. She couldn't believe this happened. "Is he going to be okay. I need to see him."
"Ariel I don't think-" Ariel gave her a look and Brooke helped her into a wheel chair. Brooke pushed her down to ICU and into Nathan's room. Lucas and Deb were in there, sitting beside him. They looked up at Ariel and Lucas gave her a weak smile. Deb ran over to her and hugged her.
"Are you okay hun?" Ariel nodded and Brooke pushed her closer to the bed. Ariel grabbed Nathans hand and let the tears fall. She couldn't believe this was happening. Deb, Lucas and Brooke left so she could have some time alone with him.
"Hey you, you better wake up soon. I had a dream about us, we were at Duke and you were playing basketball and I was in the stands cheering you on. We were happy and no one was there to break us up. Then you asked me to marry you, which I of course accepted. So for my dream to come true you better wake up." Ariel watched Nathan breathing but he never woke up. There was movement behind her and she looked up. Keith was there and he put a hand on her shoulder. Ariel grabbed his hand and cried. Keith was like her second dad, he was always there for her. Keith held her while she cried.
"Ari?" Ariel looked up at Nathan, his eyes were still closed but he did say her name, which confused Ariel.
"Nate, wake up please." There was nothing, no more of him talking. She kissed his hand and let Keith roll her out. Lucas, Brooke, Jake, Peyton, Deb, Karen, Dan, Tim, Mouth, Skills and Bevin were all outside the room. She was bombarded with kisses and hugs. When they stopped she asked the question that she was really hoping was a yes. "Did they get Haley."
"Yeah they did. Luckily Mouth had seen her when she was about to shoot and called the cops. He even stopped her from running." She nodded at Brooke and grabbed Mouth's hand.
"Thanks." Mouth nodded and hugged her.
"Ariel!" She looked past Mouth and saw her parents. They grabbed her in a hug and cried with her. "Oh honey we were so scared when Karen called us."
"Mom its okay I'm fine. Believe me." Her mom nodded and hugged her tighter. "You're going to suffocate me." Her mom pulled back and smiled.
"How's Nathan?" Ariel frowned and shrugged.
"He was shot in the back, the doctor doesn't know what will happen with his basketball career. It's most likely over." Ariel was shocked. She looked at Dan who looked like he was going to cry. Ariel wheeled herself back into the room and went by his bed. "Nathan wake up, you're torturing me by not being with me right now." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips.