Disclaimer: I do NOT own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Her Memory Is Only A Ghost Now

"Nate…Nathan?" A shaky voice approached him

"What do you want?" Nathan replied coldy

"Why Nathan? Why did you do it? Why did you take advantage of me?"

"Look Erica I didn't take advantage of you. Don't you remember that night?"

"Yes you did! There is no way I would just sleep with you. Why did you do it? You at least owe me an explanation. Nathan why did you take advantage of me?" Erica practically screamed

"For the last time I didn't take advantage of you. You weren't drunk and I didn't get you drunk. You didn't just get dumped so you weren't vulnerable either. I didn't take advantage of you and I owe you no explanation. You wanted it and I gave it to you. Just leave me alone unless you want to go round two but I don't do that so just go."

"Nathan why do you do this to girls? Why do you treat them so badly?"

"Look Erica just leave! Every girl deserves to feel the pain. Happy now? That is all I will ever tell you. You deserve the pain and misery and I chose myself to be the one to bring it."

Erica's eyes filled with tears. She looked into Nathan's blue green eyes and saw something she never cared to look for. His eyes were cold and empty they had a sad look to him. His posture was slouched and his voice tone was more depressed then angry. She didn't know what but she knew something in his past had to do with the way he treated her that night and everything he had ever done to a girl. With one last breath she managed to mumble a solid goodbye turn on her heal and leave.

Nathan lay in his bed holding a picture of a girl that no one in his family even knew existed. The one girl who brought the pain to him and that changed him forever. He remembered the first night he caught her and how much it had changed his attitude. He remembered the look on her face and the way she tricked him into accepting her apology. Nathan remembered everything about Brittany Smith and he was never going to forget her or the emotions she had made him feel that year.

FLASH BACK!

It was Brittany's birthday and Nathan wanted to surprise her. She had said she was out getting her nails done so he planned his surprise around the one-hour she had given him. It wasn't a big surprise that was coming later that night. He grabbed the red roses and placed them on the counter. He had cut away all the thorns off every single flower so not one ounce of pain would mar her perfect skin. He then grabbed the huge basket full of red and white roses. He began spreading pedals across the hall flour and headed towards her bedroom. He was going to lay pedals all across the flour and then fill the bed with the thorn less roses. All of a sudden he heard a harsh breathing. Nathan barged through the door to see something that would never escape his memory.

"Britt? Brittany how could you? You said you were getting your nails done." Nathan shouted with a hurtful tone.

"Nathan wait! Nathan please let me explain!" Brittany called after him

"What Brittany he startled you and you were so scared all your clothes leaped off and you landed on the bed? I mean how can you explain this?"

"Nathan I don't have an excuse. What you saw really happened and I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. We got caught up in the moment and it happened. I made a mistake Nathan I'm not perfect. I screwed up and because of it I will probably lose the only boy whoever really made me happy and the only boy I ever really loved." Tears rolled down Brittany's cheeks as she stared deeply into Nathan's one innocent ocean blue eyes.

"What did you say?"

"I'm sorry Nathan. I said I was sorry."

"No after that, you…you… you said you loved me."

"Nathan I do."

"You're lying. Brittany people who love each other don't cheat. Why would you hurt me even more by saying the one thing I was going to say to you tonight."

"Nathan I'm not lying okay I was scared! I was scared because I have never felt this way before."

"Do you really mean it? You have to promise me never again Britt never again."

"Nathan I love you with all my heart and I swear I'll never hurt you like this again."

Nathan pulled Brittany into his strong-arms and glared at the boy that was now fully clothed walking out the door.

"Stay the hell away from my girlfriend I don't ever want to see you again!" Nathan screamed as he walked past.

The boy just nodded. He turned back to see a sly smile pasted on Brittany's face. When he turned Brittany winked. He help up his phone and pointed and she simply nodded. She was in the free and clear and Nathan had eaten up every word she threw at him Brittany thought to herself.

Nathan slipped the picture back in between his mattresses and headed for the door. Thinking of that day made him feel used which angered him greatly. He had business to attend and a girl to seduce.

"Haley?"

"Yeah? Who's calling my name?" Haley stood looking over the pier as she answered to the deep voice that surrounded her.

"It's Nathan. I was just walking along the beach and saw you standing up hear. I wanted to come and say hi."

"Oh hey Nate what's up?" She smiled as she turned to see the beautiful boy she met only yesterday

"Not much. Hey there is this little place over there on the boardwalk and they have the best ice cream. I was just about to head over there care to join me?" His voice was pleasant but his eyes were ice cold and filled with a deep sadness.

"Oh yeah sure that sounds like fun lets go." Her smiled widened as she linked arms with him and headed towards the boardwalk.

FLASH BACK

"Nathan! Nathan slow down!" Brittany laughed as Nathan slung her over his left shoulder.

"No way Britt I'm never putting you down again." He laughed with an uneasy toned. "I mean you've cheated on me three times now and I don't think it would be safe to put you down you would probably just run off with the first guy to smile at you." Nathan joked but deep down it stung him to mutter those words and think about the pain again.

"What the hell Nathan. You said you forgave me. How much more are you going to punish me for this? Seriously Nathan that wasn't even funny and you know it!" Brittany yelled through quiet sobs.

"Look Britt I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up past wounds. I'm not trying to punish you I just can't get the image out of my mind. I can't seem to erase the mental picture of you and another guy." He said with a serious and sad tone

"Look Nathan. I love you those other boys meant nothing. No other guy has ever made me as happy as you. I love you Nathan Scott and always will. You have one thing of mine no other guy has even so much as touched."

"What is it that I have is so great that it makes me different?" Nathan scolded through gritted teeth and a look of confusion spread across his face.

"My heart" Brittany spit out as she let a single tear drop from her cheek onto his shoulder.

END FLASH BACK