Chapter 16

Haley stared between Channing and Nathan who stood either side of her. Nathan's face was blank – all expression wiped away – and Channing's held a sudden understanding. Brooke quickly moved to take Taylor from Haley as they all saw a fight coming. They just didn't know who would throw the first punch.

Channing turned his gaze to Haley as he sighed and pressed his hands into his pockets – his brows furrowing.

"So this is the guy I've been competing with? Should have known." He shook his head sadly and Haley moved closer to him.

"Channing this isn't what you think… it was a long time ago…" she tried to urge.

"Then why do you keep him locked in your heart? Since the beginning I wondered why you wouldn't open up to me and at first I thought it was because of Tay. But I know now that it was because you never let go of him." He cocked his head towards Nathan who furrowed his brow as he glanced between the two lovers. Lucas motioned to Peyton and Brooke to get Jake and Taylor out of there. They understood him in seconds, turned to Jake and handed him Taylor. Within seconds he was out of the room with the little girl.

"And you know what kills me the most? Is the fact that he'll always be that guy for you. You don't let anyone else take his place. And if you look at him you know he does the exact same thing." Channing continued and everyone could hear the sadness in his voice grow. He stepped closer to her – kissed her on the forehead – and stepped away again.

"I can't be the second fiddle anymore Hales. I'll always be there for you and Taylor…you'll always have a place in my life and in my heart. But I can't sit and watch the girl I love…love another man." His last words were so soft Haley struggled to hear him as he turned around and walked out of the room.

Once again there was a silence in the room as only the five friends were left. Brooke moved to console Haley who was crying but Haley just moved out of reach as she turned her anger towards Nathan…while the others could only stand and watch.

"Is that what you wanted Nathan? Huh? Because you just got it!" she spat out and suddenly his face came alive with rage as he stepped closer to her.

"Don't you dare pin this on me Haley…your relationship had nothing to do with me!" he spat back and Lucas lifted his hands as he moved to Nathan.

"Hey come on Nate…" he tried but Nathan's head spun towards him.

"Stay out of this Lucas! You screwed up when you cheated on Brooke and Peyton… and you still love Brooke! So stay the hell out!" he barked and Brooke and Peyton shared a look.

"Guys don't bring what happened back then into this fight. It was a long time ago." Brooke tried but once again it was Haley's turn to turn to her.

"Don't even. You hold a grudge against Lucas but in your heart you never let go! So don't even try to judge us." Haley's anger was evident and Peyton sighed.

"Come on Brooke…lets just leave." She said softly but Brooke was to hurt to think straight as she turned towards her.

"Oh…so we're going against out best friends again. Just like with Lucas." Lucas watched as Brooke and Peyton squared off and Nathan and Haley squared off.

"So you wanted to portray me as the bad guy in the video…news flash Haley! You. Left. Me!" Nathan accentuated each word and Haley gave a bitter laugh.

"Do you always have to think everything is about you? I made that video because it fit with my song!" she yelled out and it was Nathan's turn to laugh. Lucas quickly held up his hands in a truce but Haley wasn't done as she turned to Lucas.

"What would you want me to do huh Nathan? Keep my work a secret like your brother does? Did you even know he wrote a book about us?" her eye connected with Lucas and suddenly all hell was loose.

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Further down the beach Jake could hear the five friends yelling on each other. He shook his head – never understanding them – and looked down at the little girl next to him. She was looking back at the house with a confused expression and quickly turned to him.

"What's going on?" she asked sadly and Jake gave his best smile.

"Don't worry… your mommy and daddy are just having a little fight." He answered as they continued to walk away. Taylor shook her head as she picked up a shell in front of her.

"Teddy isn't my daddy. Mommy told me I wasn't allowed to call him daddy because he isn't mine. So now I call him Teddy." Jake ruffled her hair – smiling down at her – as he turned his head a bit to hear the furious shouts coming from the white house.

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The whole room was alive with shouting. Peyton and Brooke were in each other's hair about the past. Lucas was yelling on Haley for having read the book when it was obviously not hers to read. She shouted back that if he was going to publish it and she was in it she had every right to read it. In between Nathan would agree with her and yell at Lucas who yelled back that his brother only cared about himself. Then there was Nathan and Haley who continued their fight.

"You can hate me all you want Haley…but you had no right to keep my daughter away from me!" Nathan shouted and Haley's anger grew.

"I have every right in the world. Taylor is MY daughter!"

"She's ours!" he shouted back and Haley's anger hit an all time high.

"No she isn't!" her shout was the loudest in the whole room and a silence enveloped them all as they turned to her. Her face was flushed but she stood her ground as she realized once and for all the truth would have to come out.

"You don't have any say in her life because she's not your daughter." She said harshly and Nathan's eyes grew in horror.

"You cheated on…" he tried but Haley interrupted him quickly.

"How can she be yours if she isn't even mine…"