AN: Hello readers! I just wanted to give all of you who reviewed and added my story to your favorites a BIG thank you!! It means SO much to me that you are all enjoying this story and take the time to review! It puts a big smile on my face :) and as always I want to give a shout out to Allie for helping with this chapter! Enjoy!

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Chapter 3

Clay was sitting on his front porch, watching the cars that drove by every so often. He lived not too far from school so there were many kids who walked along his street every morning and every afternoon. A lot of the time those same students would jog by his small home and there Clay would be, still sitting on his front porch, thinking, always thinking. Most of the time he thought about his future, his past but lately he found Haley to be the subject of his attention. They grew up together. She was his family. There wasn't a single thing he wouldn't do for that girl.

Clay had always known she was beautiful; there was no doubt about that. Haley had a certain charm about her. She was electrifying in how much she cared for other people. He believed in her and Haley always supported him in everything he did. Clay could never understand why they weren't together though. It's what their parents had been wanting since they were in diapers. Clay could easily see how great they would be together, but Haley was not in the same place as Clay. She had never been, actually. Clay knew this but for some reason he still had hope.

Clay was deep in thought, until he heard the engine of a motorcycle slowly making its way down the street. Pulling up in front of the house, Nathan parked his bike on the street and took his helmet off. Clay knew exactly who the driver of the bike was and became instantly curious as to why Nathan would be showing up at his house, in the middle of the afternoon. And then it clicked. Haley was the reason.

Clay had never liked Nathan and now since he was apparently some part of Haley's life, Clay really didn't like him, in fact loathe would be the right word to describe his feelings towards Nathan Scott.

Nathan stood before Clay, almost like he was towering over the guy. He took off his shades and his eyes were full of frustration, anger and a hint of vulnerability, only a hint. Nathan hid that feature very well. The only person who was able to see that part of him was Haley.

To Nathan, Clay was the enemy; much like the town was his enemy. It was never by choice though, that's what people didn't know. Nathan wasn't a bad guy, he was just simply misunderstood.

"What do you want?" Clay asked in a disgusted tone.

"What do you want, man? I mean other than my girlfriend and for me to become more of a screw up than what you already think I am, so I'll leave town?"

"She's not your girlfriend. Haley feels sorry for you, that's it. I mean why would she waste her time on the town's Orphan Boy when she could have me?" Nathan took a step forward in fury, as Clay stood up. "You know it's true. I'm able to give her so much more then you ever will."

"I'm about to beat your ass man."

"Please, go ahead, hit me…" Clay was instigating him and Nathan had noticed the small grin that formed on Clay's face when he spoke.

"Don't push me, bitch."

"Orphan."

Nathan grabbed Clay by his collar and raised his hand as if he were going to hit Clay but stopped when Haley's face flashed in his head.

"You're lucky, this time. You better watch your back Evans, because the fact is I use to destroy guys like you." Nathan let out a nasty laugh. "You're pathetic. Tell me, Evans, how does it feel to know that I've been with Haley? That I've touched her and kissed her in places you only can dream about, and tasted her. You know what the best part is?"

Clay looked away from Nathan, defeated and wounded.

"When she begs, hearing her say my name in passion and want. It's the best feeling. Haley's mine Evans, you'll never be able to satisfy her the way I can." To anybody else it would seem like Nathan meant no one could satisfy Haley sexually the way he could, but Clay knew better. It meant way more than that. Clay knew Haley better than anyone, and even if she never said it, he knew that she felt lost most of the time. That she was lonely and trapped.

"You know it's true." Nathan said repeating Clay's earlier words.

Hastily letting go of Clay's collar Nathan straightened it out, smugly, until Clay pushed his hands away. "Leave, now, Orphan Boy."

"Is that the best you got? Because if that's the best you got, I don't have anything to be afraid of, concerning you."

Nathan would never let it show but the town's nickname for him, "orphan", hurt him. Never knowing his family hurt him, having the town believe he was an abandoned child, a no good child, hurt him. No one in Tree Hill knew the truth because they didn't want to know the truth. The truth wouldn't be as interesting, they would have nothing to gossip about, nothing to distract them from their own miserable lives.

Getting on his bike, Nathan looked at Clay one last time and smirked at the look of loss on his face. Nathan knew Clay's attempts of winning over Haley's affections would be a failure and now so did Clay.

It's about time someone else felt worthless in this town. Nathan was sick of it, sick of that feeling. He hit the clutch on his bike and took off down the road.

There were pictures hanging all around the darkroom, all of people, children, parents, elderly couples, and some of Haley, Brooke, Clay and Luke when they weren't looking. Just moments captured in time, to stay forever.

Quinn had a talent. She was remarkably inspired by the world around her. Being a photographer allowed her to see the beauty in life but it also allowed her to see the hidden things, things that are deeply buried beneath the surface. The expression of a person's face can speak volumes in a picture. Quinn saw things in people through her talent. Most of the time people who claimed to be happy were the ones who lived behind lies and fear and envy. Through her pictures she saw the real Tree Hill, the scenery was beautiful but the residents of the small town were ugly and afraid, they were all afraid of something. Mostly, everyone was just running scared.

"Haley? Hi, what are you doing in here?" Quinn asked as she closed the door behind her and entered the room.

"I was just admiring your work…and I kind of wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure. What's going on Haley-bob?"

"Well I assume you have talked to Clay."

"I have. Here help me with this, will you?"

Haley walked over to Quinn and held onto the 5x7 photo paper while Quinn filled the photo container with water.

"Listen Haley, I know you. You're level-headed and you have always done precisely what's expected of you. Clay doesn't understand this, just give him time, he'll come around."

"Clay's made it pretty clear to me how he feels about Nathan and I, so now I guess I just want to know what you think about it."

Quinn took the piece of photo paper from Haley, dropped it into the container, closed the lid and moved it to the right of her. She then switched the light off and walked back over to Haley and stood beside her.

"I think," Quinn started and took a deep breath. "That this town will never understand the relationship you and Nathan are developing. Everyone will try their damnedest to brainwash you into believing that Nathan is a bad boy, a criminal, an orphan," Haley hissed at that word. "That he'll corrupt you and then break your heart. I say screw them!"

Haley wasn't surprised at Quinn's attitude towards the town. Quinn, too, believed Tree Hill was filled with ignorant people. "I trust you and I trust your judgment, Haley. So if you say he's different then I believe you."

"He is. He really opens up with me Quinn. When I'm around him I can't breathe and when I'm not around him, I want to be."

"That's how it should be. I mean if we aren't out there trying to find the one we're supposed to be with, than what are we doing? Love isn't easy but it so, so worth it and it sounds like you're in love."

"Maybe I am. But I don't know if he is."

"Nathan's been through a lot. It will probably take him some time before he'll let himself feel those emotions."

"Yeah." Haley wondered if Quinn was right. She knew Nathan cared for her, she could feel it in his every touch and when he kissed her it was like she was his whole world, like nothing else mattered but her.

Quinn switched the light back on and picked up a pair of tongs.

"Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you."

"How do you know…" Haley trailed off when she noticed Quinn doing something.

Quinn opened the container, carefully took out the picture with the pair of tongs and put it into another container. Moving the picture around in the water, the image slowly came into view.

"This is how I know." Quinn said as she pointed the picture to Haley.

The picture was in black and white and the image brought tears to Haley's eyes. It was of Nathan and Haley. They were standing in the student parking lot, leaning against Nathan's bike. His arms were wrapped around Haley's waist and she was stroking the side of his cheek. Both of their eyes were locked on one another and the look in Nathan's eyes said it all.

"Thank you." Haley went to hug Quinn as a single tear ran down the side of her face.

"Sometimes, you can find the answers you're looking for in a simple picture. People's true emotions are captured in that one small, seemingly insignificant moment and that's something none of us can run away from."

(Scene 3)

It was quiet in Nathan's apartment. As, he sat on his bed and looked around his room he became aware of what Haley meant yesterday when she said it was sad here. Before, he never noticed how sad his place was. He had been living this life for so long that he had become immune to a life of obscurity and shallows and miseries. That was before though. After Haley had undoubtedly showed up in his life for every reason, things had changed for Nathan. She saw his struggles and his sin and yet she still stayed. She didn't go running in the other direction like he thought she would.

With Haley being in his life now, he didn't like the way he lived anymore, if he had ever liked it at all really. All of his life he had been nothing but angry and pissed off. Being the bad guy was easy in Tree Hill. It was easier than facing the reality-he was lonely and wanted to be loved. Nathan wanted to fill a void in his heart. He had been searching for years, and never got it until now. Haley was the part of him that was missing. She made him feel worthy.

Nathan, then, stood from his bed, at the sound of someone knocking on his door. There she stood at his door, his saving grace. The very sight of Haley made Nathan's heart skip a beat.

Haley noticed how tired Nathan looked and slowly went to caress his cheek with her palm. She had seen him yesterday but the need to be with him was urging. She felt empty without him. Haley craved Nathan. He was her obsession but what she didn't know was that Nathan craved her just as much, maybe even more.

Perhaps obsession wasn't healthy for most people but for Nathan and Haley, they couldn't survive without it, without each other.

"Hey baby. You look tired."

"I am." Nathan enveloped Haley in his arms. He felt stiff to Haley, almost aching in a way. She knew then that something had happened today. Wanting to relieve him of this pain, she took his hand in hers.

"God Haley, I breath for you."

"Will you go somewhere with me?" Haley smiled sadly.

"I'd follow you anywhere."

"Come on babe, let's get out of here."

Nathan nodded and firmly kept Haley's hand in his. The warmth of her skin repairs his soul every time.