Sorry for the wait! I just finished finals so you will probably see more updates! I am working on Middle of Nowhere and a new story currently! Review please!!

And I won't back down
I won't turn around and around
And I won't back down
Doesn't matter what comes crashing down
I'm still gonna stand my solid ground

-Mat Kearney

Chapter 2

The next day Nathan walked into school with a smirk planted firmly on his lips. He hatched a plan the night before to make sure he got to spend as much time with Haley as possible. The girl wasn't even his girlfriend and he would still do anything to spend time with her. And no he wasn't being the old Nathan, the one who couldn't find love wherever he looked, and would use girls for comfort. This Nathan wasn't after Haley for sex, he wanted so much more than that, he wanted her heart.

Nathan had power in this school over most. His Health teacher was one of them. He could get that lady to do anything for him. Today in his and Haley's class they were beginning a project. One of those projects where you have a partner who you are married to and you have to take care of an automated baby. You must manage a budget, with the jobs of your choice.

He was currently on his way to see the Health teacher, Ms. White, to make sure his partner was Haley.

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Third period went as planned. Haley James was in fact Nathan's fake wife, and the mother of his fake baby. He couldn't be happier.

"So when do you wanna get together to start working on the project." Haley asked Nathan as they walked to their next class together.

"How about tonight, you could come over and we could start and maybe watch a movie." Nathan said.

"That sounds good. Umm I have tryouts again this afternoon, we could go to your house after your practice?" Haley asked.

"Sounds like a plan." Nathan said once again with a smirk on his face. So far his plan was working better than expected.

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Haley didn't know why but she had a nervous feeling about spending the evening with Nathan. He was a really good guy, and he was easy on the eyes she had to admit. She wasn't only nervous she had a strange feeling of excitement too. Since health class, Nathan had been the one person on her mind, not that he hadn't been on her mind most of the time she had known him.

"So Haleybop, I hear you are going over Nathan's house tonight." Brooke said as they were changing after tryouts. They went well, and they made the team, despite Rachel's attempt to sabotaging Brooke's tryout. Rachel had noticed the day before the way Lucas and Brooke looked at each other and she did not feel comfortable with it. However she had to put the team first, and Brooke and Haley were really good additions to the team.

"Yeah, we have a health project to work on, you are going to have to find a ride home alone sis." Haley said nonchalantly, trying to hide her obvious excitement.

"Haley, what is Marcus going to think about you spending the night with a guy who you are obviously attracted too!" Before Haley could protest she continued. "Don't deny it I saw the way you look at each other. Come on tell your loving sister the truth. I'll tell you a secret."

"Fin, okay, I like him. But I love MARCUS!" Haley emphasized.

"Yeah, you love him that is obvious. But Haley, are you IN love with him?" Brooke asked. Although, Brooke wasn't the expert at all this romance and love stuff, she did know a thing or two. Yes, she knew Haley loves Marcus, but she was never completely sure Haley was ever truly in love with him.

Haley tried not to think about what her sister had just said so she did the one thing she could, she changed the subject to something about Brooke, "So what's Brooke James' secret?"

"You cannot tell anyone, promise?" Brooke whispered, obviously she had forgotten their conversation five seconds ago.

Haley laughed, happy that changing the subject worked, as always, "Brooke, when have I ever told anyone a secret?"

"I'm just being cautious; this could get me kicked off the team." Brooke whispered.

"Wow this is juicy." Haley said rubbing her hands together in a mischievous way.

"Shh, okay," Brooke whispered, "I have a he crush on Lucas, and he kinda kissed me yesterday after tryouts." Brooke said, with a guilty look.

"Brooke!" Haley exclaimed.

"Shh!" Brooke said, "You promised not to tell!"

"I just don't get it, with what happened with Kyle and Theresa last year I thought you wouldn't do anything like that to anyone? You know how it feels to be betrayed like that." Haley whispered.

"I don't know Haleybop, it just kinda happened and I feel really bad but we have a connection, I think Lucas might actually be worth it." Brooke said happily. Although, she only knew Lucas for less than a day she felt he was worth giving her heart to.

"I trust your instincts, but I just don't want to see you hurt again. Be careful, okay Brooke?" Haley said protectively. Last year Brooke was dating Kyle once she started really falling for him, Brooke found out he was sleeping with Theresa. She was heartbroken, and Haley was the one to pick up the pieces, Haley made a promise to herself, she would never let someone hurt her sister like that, ever again.

"I will, I don't even know what it all means, he hasn't said anything about it, but I am going to talk to him, don't worry about me." Brooke said.

Haley looked at her watch, "Listen I have to go, but please call me if you need anything before I get home, okay?" Haley said concerned.

"Yes, mom," Brooke said sarcastically.

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Meanwhile…

Nathan and Lucas were getting dressed after their shower in the locker-room.

"I think I am going to break up with Rachel." Lucas said out of the blue.

"Woah buddy! Where the hell did that come from! And are you serious, because if you are than go do it now! Let that bitch go!" Nathan said.

"Wow, I never knew you felt like that Nate. Yeah I am serious, I am ready to move on, and yeah she is a total bitch." Lucas said.

"Move on? Is there someone else I should know about?" Nathan asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

"Yeah there kinda is." Lucas said thoughtfully, "Brooke, I kissed her yesterday. I don't know what came over me. I was walking her to the car and just talking and when we got there I just kissed her." He said with a happy glint in his eyes, but that soon disappeared and he became serious, "But do not tell anyone, especially Rachel she will kill me or worse Brooke." Lucas said. He knew how important cheerleading was to Brooke; she never actually said it was but he could tell it meant a lot to her.

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone if you don't tell anyone what I am about to tell you." Nathan said mysteriously.

"Okay, what is it now?" Lucas asked.

"I am going to make Haley mine, I mean I'm going to try. I met her boyfriend, Marcus, and there is something about him I just didn't like, but that isn't the point. I really like Haley. There is something different than all the other girls about her and I want her, and not just for sex, I want more than that." Nathan explained.

"Wow, little bro, I didn't think you could be so deep." Lucas said, "It might be easier than you think though. When I was talking to Brooke she said that she saw something in Haley's eyes when she was with you, that she hasn't seen for a while when she was with Marcus. I guess she has that twin telepathy thing, or something, with her and she can see it. Haley has a thing for you, man." Lucas said patting Nathan on the back

"I hope so! You know what mom says, if it's meant to be it's meant to be." Nathan said. "I gotta go. Haley is coming over to start working on our project." Nathan said as he put his bag on his shoulder and headed towards the door.

"Be careful little bro. She might be able to break you." Lucas said.

"Will you please stop calling me little brother, you are only two minutes older. And don't worry about me I will be fine." Nathan said as he walked out to go look for Haley.

When he found her she was sitting on the bleachers with her bag texting someone.

"Who you texting?" Nathan asked as he sat next to her.

Haley looked up from her phone and said, "Marcus, but he has practice, I'm just leaving him a message." Haley said.

"You ready to go?" Nathan asked her, trying to get the subject of conversation away from Marcus.

"Yeah, let's get a move on Nate." Haley said getting up and heading toward the door, Nathan walking shortly behind her.

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10 minutes later

"Wow, this is your house?" Haley asked amazed at how big this house was.

"Yeah. Grandpa Roe left us a good amount of money." Nathan said.

"Well the house you saw last night, we are just living there until the mansion is renovated." Haley joked.

"Very funny. Come on let's start working." Nathan said as he led Haley into the family room.

The two sat on the couch while they got their books out to start working.

"So, Nathan, Mr. Basketball Hotshot, what do you wanna be when you grow up?" Haley asked.

"Honestly, growing up I always wanted to be in the NBA, but now I'm not to sure. You want to know something?" Nathan asked. Before Haley could answer he continued, "I really just want someone I could love and lots of kids, because deep down I know that is all I need to really be happy."

"Wow." Haley said amazed that Nathan would open up to her like that. "You really didn't need to tell me all that, I mean we just met."

"I wanted to." Nathan said as he moved closer to her. Haley was the first person he had ever admitted that to, but he felt strangely liberated, all he wanted to do at that moment was kiss her, because he felt right there that maybe she could be that girl for him. He knew she had a boyfriend, which she loved, so he was completely caught off guard when her lips met his in a passionate kiss.

No, he hadn't kissed her, he was going to but she beat him to it.

'What am I doing, I have a boyfriend, but his lips are so soft' Haley thought as she continued to kiss him.

Slowly Haley laid back. Nathan followed her so he was on top of her. Before things could get out of hand Nathan stopped kissing her, "Haley we should stop. I don't want to pressure you into anything you don't want to do." Nathan said as he sat up.

Haley soon followed, "Oh god! What have I done! I shouldn't have done that Nathan. What am I going to do with Marcus. I just made out with you Nathan! I should go." Haley said as she grabbed her things and rushed out of the Scott household without another word.

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"BROOKE!" Haley yelled when she got home, "I need to talk to you NOW!" She added.

"Gosh Hales! Calm Down! I was on the phone." Brooke said annoyed as she walked down the stairs, but once she saw the look on Haley's face her attitude changed. "Hales what is wrong." Brooke whispered in her ear when she hugged Haley.

"Can we sit down?" Haley asked. Brooke nodded and she led Haley to the couch in their new living room. "Oh god Brooke! I don't know what I was thinking. I kissed Nathan." Haley said. She couldn't bear to look up to see her sister's reaction so she continued, "I not just a peck, I fully made out with him, tongue and all. And if he hadn't stopped me I would have probably gone all the way. And he wasn't mad or anything, he was sweet, he said that he didn't want to pressure me into doing something I didn't want to do!"

"Hales, it's going to be okay, don't worry." Brooke tried to comfort her, but it wasn't working. Haley let out a sob.

"You don't understand." Haley said between cries. "I wanted to kiss him, he was going to kiss me, but I kissed him first! I barely know the guy Brooke! But since I met him he is all I could think about! I still love Marcus sooo much, but I cant help but wonder maybe he isn't everything I though he was, maybe there is something more for me out there, and maybe Nathan's that." Haley said sadly.

"Well, if that is how you really feel than you need to take a break form Marcus and go for Nathan, Hales. If you don't give it a chance than your life will be filled with 'what ifs'." Brooke said.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Brookie." Haley said as she hugged Brooke.

"Okay, now that your problem is solved," Brooke continued excitedly, "I have good news!"

Haley laughed at her sisters immediate change in attitude, "Spill." Haley said.

"Lucas broke up with Rachel tonight! And he wants to go out with me." Brooke said then added quickly, "But you cannot tell anyone! Only you and probably Nathan will know for now. I don't want Rachel to hold a grudge, cheerleading means a lot to me and Luke knows that. It was his idea." Brooke said eagerly.

"Brooke I am so happy for you!" Haley said enthusiastically. "I would stay and talk about it, but I got to take care of Marcus then Nathan." Haley said standing up and heading for the stairs. "Love ya Brooke." She said before leaving.

"Love ya too, Haleybop!" Brooke yelled up the stairs then she turned on the television.

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Nathan was still sitting on the couch an hour later lost in thought, 'What if I blew it? What if she never wants to talk to me again? Haley isn't just any girl she is 'the girl' Nathan thought. His thoughts were interrupted by Lucas walking into the living room.

"What's wrong with you?" Lucas asked as he sat down on the couch.

"Well my night went from great to bad. Haley and I started working on our project, and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I don't know exactly how it happened but we ended up pretty much mauling eachother on the couch. I stopped aand she freaked and just left." Nathan said.

"Wow, atleast one of us had a good night." Lucas said sympathetically, "I broke it off with Rachel and I'm dating Brooke, but you cannot say anything to anyone because it might harm her chances of making the squad." Lucas said.

"Thank god!" Nathan said. When he saw Lucas's bewildered face he said, "What? Now we won't have to deal with Rachel all the time. The girl was horrible Luke!"

Lucas laughed, "Yeah she was." He said.

Their laughter soon died down into a comfortable silence, when the door bell rang. "I'll get it." Nathan said standing up.

When he opened the door he was surprised to see Haley standing there. "Haley, what…" But before he could finish his question Haley was in his arms kissing him with all the passion she had.