Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the wait in the update - I know, I'm rubbish at updating but I promise I'm going to be better at it now. I'm relatively happy with the outcome of this part but that usually means that you guys won't like it. Well, I leave that up to you. Don't forget to review!

Part 2

A harsh, biting wind swept down over Tree Hill and orange October leaves whispered unknown secrets as they fell from the trees. The streets were vacant as the people of Tree Hill scampered into their warm, inviting homes. And a darkening sky lay draped over the town, waiting patiently before it shed its tears.

All the while, a raven black haired boy sat by his window following a crisp, brown leaf as it blew in the wind. His heart weighed down upon him and he longed to be in the arms of a perky, blonde girl. As his electric blue eyes darted across his lawn and into that of his neighbor's, he caught sight of the very girl he wanted – needed. She was sitting on the white steps that led up to the side entrance of her house with her eyes closed. Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, he pulled a hooded jumper over his head, jumped into his Nike trainers and bounded down the stairs.

The silence grew heavy as he neared the steps. Taking a few steps closer, he found that she was crying. Streams of water were flowing down her beautiful face, her eyes still forced shut.

He kneeled down in front of her and wiped away her salty tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"Haley?" He whispered gently. She didn't open her eyes; she knew long ago that he was coming. She could feel his presence a mile away. She simply said,

"It's about to rain." Sniffing the air, he replied.

"I know. But why are you out here?"

"I wanted to feel the rain." She paused, taking a long, shaky breath. "Do you like the rain, Nathan?" And without even a second's thought, he answered,

"Of course I do. You know I love it." She smiled as he spoke.

"Well, there you go, that's why I wanted to come out here and feel the rain. You know, I remember the time you told me you loved the rain. It was four years ago, we were in your house and all the power had gone out. Brooke and Lucas had fallen asleep within seconds, but you and I stayed awake, listening to the sounds of the night as the rail pelted down." She paused, taking the time to rest her head on his shoulder. "And you got up, put your jacket on, grabbed the basketball under your bed and said,

"'Want to play some one on one?' – To this day I honestly can't figure out what you expected me to say."

Nathan interjected at this moment, laughing.

"And you looked at me as if I had grown another head."

"And yet, you dragged me along – all the way to the Rivercourt no less. I mean, why would you want to use the court in your own back yard?" She scoffed.

"What? I told you –

"You told me that the Rivercourt was special. 'It has its own special meaning. You won't understand.' You said." She intervened, air quoting him with a wistful smile. "By then the rain had soaked through all our clothes and you just stood there, completely at peace, letting the world pass you by." She choked on a laugh as a few more tears fell from her round, chocolate brown eyes.

"Hey, why are you crying again baby girl?" He asked her, enveloping her in a hug.

"Because of you." She whispered, her lips quivering as she did so. Releasing her from his grasp, he looked into her eyes, perplexed.

"Me... How?" He asked, his voice barely audible.

"I found it." Was all she managed to croak out before squeezing her eyes shut.

"What….what did you ……tell me…what you found?" He questioned, already knowing the fateful answer. But he never got to hear her reply. Haley had begun to walk away as the first few droplets of the night began to fall from the open sky.

Jogging up to her fading form, he walked with her in silence. All he could hear was the furious beat of his heart and the gentle rhythm of the rain.

This was the reason he didn't want them to be together. This was why he never professed his love for her before. And yet she had fallen for him. Even after he had accepted his fate, he had never stopped praying for Haley – or his brother, or Brooke. They were his family.

Sensing the loss of warmth beside him, he looked up. Haley stood at the center of the Rivercourt with her arms spread wide, soaking in the cool rain. He smiled and ran a hand through his spiky, wet hair.

Before she knew it, a pair of strong, muscular arms were wrapped around her waist and Nathan's chin was resting gently upon her shoulder. Haley smiled despite the situation they were in. Tear tracks ran down Nathan's chiselled face as he turned to face Haley, still holding her in his arms. Her arms flew up to his neck as they heard the rain fall harder.

Ice blue met blazing brown in an intense stare, a veil of icy water viciously separating the two. The wind shrieked as it circled around them. Nathan pulled Haley nearer to him, never breaking away from her heart-broken eyes. And as the lightning flashed violently and the thunder bellowed, she slapped him.

The distance between them increased as Nathan stumbled back and the grave skies groaned again as the sheet of rain grew thicker. His heart churned and he ached to comfort her. But instead he continued to let her ball her small hands into fists and try to hurt him. By now Haley was shrieking furiously as she punched his chest.

Her heart had pined for years and now, when she had finally summoned the courage to tell him of her love for him, he was slipping from her grasp. Tears stung her eyes as she thought of his smile and laugh. It would all fade away; he would become nothing but a memory in her mind. Their undying love for one another had been born long ago, now, as they were beginning to understand it, as they were beginning to unearth it from the depths of their souls, their love would be burnt to ashes by the raging fire of death.

"Why did you do this to me?" She cried. "Why can't I hurt you? Why won't you break? Why do you have to leave? I want to hate you!" She screamed, taking steps towards to him.

"I wish I could hate you. But I end up loving you more and more each time." She whispered, hiccupping as she tried to force down her tears.

As he moved to reach out to her, she flinched and turned her back to him – looking out, over the river.

"Haley. I …..I….." Nathan's voice faltered as he tried to console her. "I'm sorry," was all that he managed to say. He hung his head, defeated. Haley whipped around, her chocolate orbs glistening,

"Don't be sorry." She took a shaky breath of air. She circled her arms around his waist and he reciprocated similarly. They stood there is silence for quite some time, a torrent of emotions attacking their young hearts. Haley buried her head into Nathan's chest and whispered,

"Don't be sorry I'm falling in love with a dying man."

Author's Note: So...I'm guessing that you're all super confused and angry right now. Well, hopefully most of this will be resolved by the next chapter so feel free to review away! lol