Disclaimer: I own nothing!

AN: Hey everyone, sorry it's taken so long to update. I know it's not me to wait so long. I like to keep ahead of myself and I really haven't had the time to write lately. Hopefully I will be able to get some more chapters written in the next few days. Anywho, I know you will probably totally hate this chapter...especially all you Naley fans...But don't worry. Let me know rather you love it or hate it. You know i love feedback! Now, onto the story.

Chraley

When school started, Nathan was happy to know that since Chris was already out of school, he would at least get to spend time with Haley during the day. Nathan walked up to Haley at her locker their first day back. "Hey Hales." He said with a smile as he leaned up against the locker. "I went by your house this morning, I thought we would walk together, but your parents said you had already left with your boyfriend?"

Haley turned and smiled. "Hey Nate." She took a drink of her coffee then closed her locker door. "Umm yeah. Chris picked me up and brought me to school before his shift at the music store." She said slightly distracted.

"Oh." The two of them started walking down the hall. "So, you guys are together now?"

"Yeah."

"How did that happen?"

Haley looked over at Nathan. "Am I being interrogated?" She smiled weakly. "Sorry, still kind of sleepy. I was out late last night with Chris. Umm you asked me something." She thought for a minute. "Oh, yeah. Well, I guess it had been forming a little over the summer, then it just sort of happened at Tric Friday." She stopped as she finished her coffee and threw away the empty cup. She turned and looked at Nathan. "Hey, you okay?"

Nathan sighed. "Yeah, umm, so I'll see you at lunch?" He asked looking back at Haley.

Haley scrunched up her face. "Actually, Chris is picking me up for lunch." She saw as something in Nathan's eyes had shifted, clouded over. "But hey, I will see you after lunch in English…then I promise that I will stay here the rest of the week."

"Yeah okay." He started to walk off to class then turned around. "Hey, Hales?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you happy?" He wanted her to be happy more than anything, but at that moment, he was hoping she would say no.

Haley thought for a minute then smiled. "Yeah, I am. I'll see you later." She turned and walked away, leaving Nathan watching after her.

Haley had kept her promise to Nathan. On Tuesday, Haley sat with her five friends, just like normal. On Wednesday, however, when Nathan walked outside for lunch, he saw Chris walking up to Haley, who was standing on the sidewalk smiling. Nathan walked up behind Haley. "Hey, I thought you were going to stay on campus this week…"

Haley turned and looked at Nathan. "I am. Chris came by to eat lunch with us."

She turned and smiled as Chris walked up to her, put his arms around her tightly and kissed her. When he stepped back, he looked at Nathan. "Hey Nathan." He said with a smile before looking back at Haley. "Lead the way."

Nathan glared after the couple then followed. He sat down at the table with his friends and Chris. All through lunch he was in a bad mood and barely said anything. After lunch, he watched Chris and Haley just about make out before he left. Haley walked up to Nathan with a smile. "You ready?"

Nathan nodded and started walking to class with Haley. "So…umm…you two getting serious? I mean, you've only been together for a few days."

Haley looked over at Nathan. "Well, we did spend all summer together…What is your problem with Chris, Nate?"

"I don't have a problem with the guy…I just think your going a little fast."

Haley shook her head. "Well, that's not really any of your business, is it?" She glared at Nathan then walked off.

A few minutes later, Nathan walked into English and looked at Haley then sat in the back. Haley didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. After practice, he ran over to the café and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Haley working. He walked up to her, pulling her to the back. "Listen, Hales. You're my best friend. I just don't want to see you get hurt, okay."

Haley stared at him for a minute before responding. "I get it. But you can't protect me from everything, Nathan. You have to allow me to make my own mistakes." She said calmly.

Nathan nodded his head then pulled Haley into a hug. "You know I'm just trying to look after you…I love you Haley. You're my best friend. And I don't know what I would do without you."

Haley smiled as Nathan hugged her. "I love you too. Now can I get back to work?" They both laughed as Nathan let her go and watched her walk back out to the dining area.

As Nathan walked back to the front, he saw Chris walk in and immediately walked out. He walked around town for a little while before going over to Peyton's. He walked inside, she never locked the door, and upstairs to her room. He smiled when he saw her in her closet drawing and listening to very loud music. He grabbed the remote that was on her bed and turned the music down.

Peyton turned around sharply ready to go off, but when she saw Nathan she smiled. "Hey Nate." She said as she put her drawing down and walked over to her bed, sitting down beside Nathan. "What's up?"

Nathan looked at Peyton for a minute trying to decide if he should say anything. He knew he had to talk to someone so he took a deep breath and started talking. "Peyton…I can talk to you…right?"

She gave him a weird look then nodded her head. "What's up?"

"This has to stay between me and you." He said firmly.

"Nathan…I promise, now tell me."

"What do you think about this Chris guy?"

"He's okay, I guess. A little arrogant. Why?"

Nathan sighed then leaned back against the headboard. "At first I thought that I was just being the overprotective best friend…but now, I'm not so sure."

Peyton looked at him for a little while as they sat in silence. "So, you like your best friend…more than a friend. There's nothing wrong with that."

"I don't think you get it…" Nathan started

"No, I do. You like her, want more, and are jealous of Chris, because he's with her and your not. But Nathan, there's something you need to realize…Chris, he won't stick."

Nathan shook his head. "No…I mean, yes, all that's true, but what I mean is…I don't just like her…I think I love her, Peyton."

Peyton's mouth dropped open. "Oh."

"Yeah. And I want to be able to back off and let her do this thing with Chris, but it's killing me to see them together. And to top it all off…I feel like I've lost my best friend."

Peyton pulled Nathan into a tight hug. "You always have me." She joked. Nathan looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Yeah I know…I'm still not Haley."

Nathan nodded. "Nothing against you, or our friendship. I love that we can be friends like this, but there's just something about her." He groaned. "What am I going to do?"

Peyton took a deep breath. "Your going to wait out this thing she has with Chris. And when he breaks her heart…you will be there to pick up the pieces. And if she breaks his heart…well then you can laugh in his face." She smiled and watched as Nathan started laughing.

"Thanks, Peyton."

Peyton hit his leg before getting up. "Anytime. Hey, I have an idea on how you can spend some Chris free time with Haley."

Nathan looked up at her. "Ookay." He said not sure of what to think yet. "What are you thinking?"

Peyton shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Just leave it to me. Now get out of here." She smiled as she pushed him out the door.

Brooke walked past Nathan and into Peyton's room, which she was now sharing with her. "Hey, what's going on?" She asked as she laid down on the bed.

Peyton turned and smiled. "Just the person…" She trailed off. "We are going to make a new tradition. For now on, Friday nights we, as in the six of us, are going to hang out."

"Why?"

"Because, with everything that's been going on, we haven't really been able to very much. I think we need that."

"Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"Tell Lucas…see what he thinks."

"Okay." Brooke hopped up and walked out.

Peyton called Jake and told him all about it. Then grabbed her jacket and walked out.

Thirty minutes later, Peyton was walking into the café where she saw Lucas, Nathan, and Brooke sitting at the counter with Haley standing on the other side. "Hey guys. Brooke, did you talk to him?"

"Yeah, he likes the idea."

Nathan and Haley looked at Peyton questionably. "What are you talking about?" Nathan asked, trying to sound like he didn't know what was going on, which wasn't a complete lie.

"I talked to Jake also and he agreed." Peyton looked at Nathan and Haley then sat down. "Okay, so I was thinking, since it's senior year, and so far, we haven't really been able to do much…together…I think that we should start a tradition. On Fridays…no matter what happens, the six of us gets together to hang out. Just us. I think considering we're all probably gonna be scattered across the U.S. next year, this will be good."

Haley smiled but it slowly went away. "Can I bring Chris?"

Peyton took a deep breath. "What about just the six of us did you not understand. Come on, your supposed to be the smart one."

Haley hit Peyton in the arm. "Fine. I don't think he'll like it, but I'm in."

Peyton smiled and turned to Nathan. "So, you're the last one, you in?"

Nathan looked at Haley for a minute before looking back at Peyton. "Yeah, I'm in."

"Good. I gotta go. I'm meeting Jake. Umm how about we just meet here on Friday…say 5. Bye." She waved and quickly got up and left.

"Yeah, we need to get going also." Brooke said and grabbed Lucas' hand and led him out of the café.

Nathan turned to Haley smiling before Chris walked up behind him. "Hey." He said before sitting down.

"Hey babe." Haley said as she leaned over the counter to give Chris a kiss.

"I'm gonna head out also. I'll see you later, Hales."

"Okay, bye Nathan." She watched him leave then turned back to Chris. "So, I have to talk to you about something."

"Why does this sound bad?"

"It's not…well not really." She took a deep breath and leaned down on the counter. "So, Peyton just came up with this, Friday night thing for us, seeing as it's our senior year and whatnot, but for now on, Friday's is just the six of us…Me, Nathan, Jake, Lucas, Peyton and Tigger."

"What?" She could see the anger on his face as he said this, and it didn't go away. "Haley, come on, Friday Nights? This is ridiculous. Just tell them no."

Haley leaned up. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I already told them I would. And these are my friends Chris."

"Well, we can always find you new friends." He said bitterly.

Haley glared at him. "I can't believe you just said that. I think you should leave."

"Haley, I'm sorry. It's just that I barely…" But he was cut off.

Haley threw up her hands. "Just go." She said before turning and walking away.

Chris looked at her then angrily walked out, slamming the door shut on his way out making Haley jump.

Haley's fight with Chris was really stressing her out. By Friday, she still hadn't talked to him. She was the first one at the table on Friday as Jake walked up and sat down. "What happened to Chris? He hasn't came by in the last few days…and you've been on edge."

Haley's head snapped up then her face softened. "We had a fight the other day. About this whole Friday Night thing. He told me not to do it, then when I told him I already said I would and you all were my friends, he had the audacity to say that I could always find new friends." She said all in one sentence and finally took a breath.

"Wow." Jake said. "Well, I hope your ready to talk to him."

"Why?"

"Because he's walking up"

Haley turned and saw Chris heading towards the table. She stood up and met Chris halfway there. "Not here." She said before dragging him back to the parking lot. She stood in front of him with her arms crossed. "What are you doing here?" She asked bitterly.

Chris sighed. "Haley, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said. I was mad, and it just came out."

"Well, that's not really my problem, is it?" She retorted.

"Come on, Haley. These past few days have been killing me. Just don't be mad anymore. I didn't mean what I said. I like your friends." He reached out and pulled her to him.

"Chris, you have to understand. Those five people are my family."

"I know. I'm sorry." Haley sighed. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?" He said with a slight smirk.

Haley couldn't help but let the smile spread on her face. "Shut up and come here." She put her hands behind his head and pulled him to her and kissed him.

Chris and Haley didn't have any more problems. They dated for a long time, and in December, Chris asked her to come home with him. "I can't, Chris."

"Hales, I'm about to go on tour again. And this may be the last time I get to spend any time with you until I get back."

"I know, but I can't. For one, my parents won't ever let me. And…"

"And you have plans with your friends." He said with spite in his voice.

"Yeah, I do. It's our senior year. And we don't know where we're going to be next year."

"Yeah, and I'm about to leave for six weeks."

"I'm sorry."

"No your not. Damn it Haley. I so tired of this. I never get to see you, and when I do, they are always around. Can't you just do something for yourself and choose me for once." He yelled.

Haley glared at him. "You know what. Your right."

"I am…I mean I am!" He exclaimed.

"No, I do need to make a choice…Goodbye Chris." She said as tears swelled in her eyes. She didn't want to do this, but just like Nathan and Peyton last year, if forced to choose, it would always be her friends.

"Your joking. You know what. Whatever. Your friends are losers and eventually your going to figure that out. And when you do, don't come running to me. Because you just lost the best thing you'll ever have. You can't do better than me. You'll never be able to." He spat before getting in his car and speeding off.

AN: Okay guys. I know it was quick, but hopefully more will be explain in the next few chapters. Feedback is my friend. It keeps my brain working, so please help me to be inspired. Let me know what you think. Till later...I'm out!