Disclaimer : I do not own oth or any of it's characters

Author's Note Hey everyone, I hope you like this chapter. I am really sorry for all the lack of updates, but between life getting in the way, and having a block, I haven't been able to write much. However, I have finished the story and there will only be one other chapter left. However, I am starting to work on a few different stories now and plan to start posting them soon. And in the next month or so, I will start working on the third part of this big story. So, now to the story...Read and Review.

Find The Strength

It was the week before prom and the excitement at school was growing each day. The theme for prom was Dancing among the stars, and the decorations were already looking amazing. The ballet for Prom Queen and King were being made and each of the couples were on it.

Brooke was standing at her locker, talking to Peyton on Monday. "I heard that it's going to be down to me and Lucas, You and Jake, Nathan and Haley, and some other couple. I think I'm going to vote for Nathan and Haley though."

Peyton looked at Brooke and shook her head. "You would rather have them win, and not you and Lucas?" Peyton said, surprised.

Brooke laughed. "Yeah, I think I do want them to win." Brooke turned and looked at Peyton. "I mean, Lucas and I are already a couple and it would be nice if we won, but I think Nathan and Haley deserve it more. After all they've been through to get to where they are now, which, in my opinion, isn't even where their supposed to be."

Peyton nodded. "You're right. And speaking of…here comes Haley now."

Brooke turned and smiled at Haley, who was walking towards them. "Do you realize that Nathan and I are up for King and Queen? Who in their right minds would do that?" Haley said as she got to her friends and leaned against the lockers.

Brooke and Peyton looked at each other and laughed. "Are you kidding me, Tutor Girl? You and Nathan need to work a little harder to be less obvious."

Haley turned her head and looked at Brooke, slightly confused. "What in the world are you talking about, Tigger?"

Peyton sighed. "Haley, as smart as you are…sometimes, you just don't get it. Even though you and Nathan aren't officially together, people have been noticing the couple like things you two do. At first it was just us who saw it, but now…everyone can see it."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "She's right. You two are getting sloppy in hiding your…relationship."

Haley rolled her eyes. "We don't have a relationship…I don't even know what we have."

Peyton sighed. "You take this one…I gotta get to class." She said before walking off.

Haley watched Peyton walk away then turned to Brooke. "What was that about?"

Brooke closed her locker before linking arms with Haley and walking down the hall. "You walk around, acting like you and Nathan aren't anything special…when we all know that Nathan has your heart…and he has for a long time now."

Haley looked at Brooke briefly then shook her head. "I'm not denying that he has a special place in my heart…however, we are not a couple, and I'm not even sure if that is what I want. Like I've said before, we are all going someplace different next year, and I don't know if I can stand to be with him, only to have to leave him in a few short months. Then after we are gone, how am I going to…"

"Stand being away from him most of the year…yeah I know Haley. I'm going through the same things with Lucas. But I believe that it's worth it. And I know that you think Nathan is worth it too. You just have to find the strength within yourself."

Haley took a deep breath. "I'll see you at lunch." She said quietly as they walked to her classroom. She smiled weakly at Brooke before walking inside and taking her seat.

Haley sat in all her morning classes, thinking about what Brooke had said that morning. She knew that Brooke was right. Nathan was worth it, she just didn't know if she could do it. As she was leaving her last class before lunch, she made a promise to herself that if it came to them actually being together, she would make the most of the time they had and try to find the strength to leave him after the summer.

Haley was walking towards the table the six of them always sat at when someone grabbed her hand and pulled her away. She turned and smiled as she saw Nathan's blue eyes staring back at her. "Nathan you nearly scared me half to death."

Nathan laughed as he held her gaze. "Sorry. I just thought that we could go someplace for lunch…just the two of us."

Haley looked at him for a few seconds before speaking. "What about the others?" She asked, pointing a finger over her shoulder.

"We are always doing stuff together, as a group. I thought that maybe, at least this once, we could do something by ourselves."

Haley smiled and nodded softly. "Okay, lead the way."

Nathan led her to his car, opening the door for her, then getting into the driver's side. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "So, I haven't seen you all day, where have you been?"

Haley glanced at Nathan. "I've been around, just like always." She said with a laugh. "So where are we going…the café?"

Nathan shook his head. "No, we're going to this small diner just outside of town."

Haley turned and faced the smiling Nathan. "Nathan, we still have afternoon classes to be at."

Nathan shook his head. "No we don't…I made arrangements."

"What kind of arrangements."

"Oh, I just made sure we wouldn't miss anything."

A few minutes later, they were pulling into the parking lot of a small diner, just outside Tree Hill. "Here we are."

Haley looked around before getting out of the car. "And where exactly is here?" She said with a smile.

They were out in the middle of nowhere, at a small, quaint diner. Nathan smiled as he walked around the car and took her hand. "Well, from what I hear, there are many people that have noticed our…couple like tendencies. So I thought…"

"You thought you would bring me out here in the middle of nowhere to kill me and all that?" Haley said jokingly.

Nathan laughed. "Yeah, that's it."

Haley wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck. "Well, I'm glad you took the time for little ol' me." She reached up and kissed him softly. "I'm starving."

Nathan shook his head and took Haley's hand into his own, leading her into the diner. They spent the next few hours, just enjoying each others company, talking about Prom, and college. Haley was having a great time just being with Nathan when she noticed the time. "Oh crap. I'm supposed to meet Brooke and Peyton in an hour. Can we head back to town?"

Nathan nodded. "Of course." He got up and paid the bill before they walked out and got back into the car.

Thirty minutes later, Nathan pulled up to Brooke's house. He stopped the car out front and turned, smiling at Haley. "Thanks for going with me today."

Haley faced Nathan and lost herself in his eyes for a few moments. "Nathan, I would go anywhere with you." She leaned over and kissed him deeply before getting out and going into Brooke's house.

When she got into Brooke's room, she saw Lucas was there. "Umm, hey." She said, shaking her head at the couple, making out on the bed.

Brooke looked over and smiled. "Hey, Tutor Girl. Lucas was just leaving." She said, pushing Lucas off of her before sitting up.

Haley nodded. "Yeah, I see that."

Brooke and Lucas laughed. He leaned over and kissed Brooke one last time before walking out of the room. Haley walked over and sat next to Brooke on the bed. "Where's Peyton?"

Brooke groaned. "She's out somewhere with Jake. She called a little while ago and said she wouldn't be able to make it. Which is okay, because I wanted to finish the conversation we were having earlier."

Haley smiled. "You don't need to finish anything. You're right. Nathan's worth it. And I got to just find the strength to be without him next year."

Brooke clapped her hands together. "Yay. This is great, Hales. You won't regret it."

Haley laid down, placing her head on Brooke's lap. "I hope your right."

AN Hey, I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think.