Haley sighed contently, feeling absolutely secure and cozy in the one place in the world where she felt the most safe…her boyfriend's arms. She scooted a little closer to his body and closed her eyes. Sometimes it still seemed surreal. Was Tutor Girl really with Nathan Scott, the Nathan Scott? It was almost hard to believe that he had changed his mean and selfish ways for her but it was true. It was all true and anytime Haley had trouble believing it, all she had to do was stare up into his amazing eyes.

"I was thinking we should go to Florida for senior trip this year."

Haley frowned.

"But the seniors always go to Myrtle Beach after graduation. It's sort of like Tree Hill High tradition."

"I wasn't talking about everybody else, Hales. I was talking about you and me maybe starting a little tradition of our own."

Haley wiggled out of his embrace, sitting up and smiling amidst the textbooks and notebooks from which the couple was supposed to be studying from.

"Florida? Really? Just the two of us? What made you think of that?"

Nathan grinned and shrugged.

"I don't know", he stroked the small of her back through her shirt, while kissing at her neck. "It could be fun…and romantic."

"Romantic, huh?" she raised a teasing but skeptical eyebrow. "Tell me you don't think a week of uninhibited fun in the sun in Miami or Orlando or Daytona Beach is by some chance going to get me in bed with you."

"You're already in bed with me", he stated the obvious.

"I meant naked", she rolled her eyes.

"That could be arranged."

"Nathan!" she giggled.

"Haley, anytime I'm with you it's always fun and romantic. I don't care whether we're chilling out here or if we go to Myrtle Beach with everyone else or Florida. Just as long as we're together, I'm happy."

She stroked the side of his handsome face.

"You're so sweet."

"Hales, it's about you and me. That's all that matters. I don't care what we do or where we do it, I just want to be with you."

"You always say the right thing."

"But if you'd want to spend that week getting it on like five times a day, every day, I have no objections."

She groaned and hit him playfully with a nearby pillow.

"Uh, I spoke too soon. I told you, I'm saving myself for marriage. Or at least that's the plan."

"Plans change."

"I'm sure you think they do."

"I mean it", he got serious again for a minute. "Who knows? We could be married by then."

"Nathan!"

"What? We love each other. We want to be together forever, right? It could happen."

"You're embarrassing me."

"I don't mean to. I don't mean to pressure you either. I know whatever's gonna happen will happen. I guess we just have to wait and see. But I mean it when I say that I love you and that you're it for me. One day we're going to make that official. That's what I want. Don't you want that to?"

She leaned over his body and practically melted. Of course she wanted that. She wanted it more than anything in the world.

"I love you", she whispered, kissing him again and again. "I really love you, Nathan."

He pulled her close to enjoy the moment, their moment. A moment that would last only a few seconds.

"Haley! Nathan! Kids, are you up there?"

They stopped and quickly pulled away, cursing the fact that their moment was gone…for the moment.

"What, Mom?" Nathan couldn't help but scowl.

"You have a visitor."

"Who? Look, whoever it is, send them away. Hales and I are studying."

"It's not for you, honey, It's for Haley."

The young couple looked at each other. Deb didn't have to say another word, they already knew who it was. After all, it would be the fourth time that week.

"What the hell does she want?" he muttered.

Haley shrugged.

"Beats the hell out of me. But I know it must be something."

"Well, tell her to go away."

"I can't do that. Nathan, that's mean", Haley had already stood, smoothing her hair and sticking her feet back in her shoes.

"Oh well. Then at least find out what she wants so she can quit bugging us. Does she show up this much at your house?"

Haley thought for a minute before leaving.

"No. No, I guess she doesn't."

She made her way down the stairs of Casa Scott, smiling at her boyfriend's mother before stepping outside to greet her visitor.

"Well, it took you long enough", the other girl grinned. "What, were you and Nathan doing the deed or what?"

"Rachel…"

"Oh yeah. You're still waiting for marriage. Pity. Anyway…"

"Look, Rachel…"

"Aren't you even going to invite me in?"

Haley took a deep breath.

"I will. I will when I find out what you want. What you really want."

Rachel frowned.

"What I really want…Haley, I don't know what you're talking about."

"I mean, you're a cool person and all and yeah we hang out with the same people but it's not exactly like we're close friends and all. Then all of a sudden the last week you've been like my shadow. I just get the feeling something is up and if it is, I'd appreciate if you just told me."

Rachel bowed her head and bit her lip.

"You're right."

"I am?"

"Yes. You're right, Haley. There is something that I need and you're the only one that can help me out at this point."

"Why me?"

"You can't tell anyone. I have my reasons but for now, no one can know what I'm doing. Not even Nathan."

"I don't like to keep secrets from my boyfriend."

"I know and I don't blame you but please. This is important."

Haley looked a little closer and she swore she could actually see tears, real tears in Rachel's eyes.

"Fine. I won't tell. Just what is it?"

Rachel took a deep breath.

"It's Cooper."

"Cooper? Nathan's uncle?"

"Yes. I, I need to talk to him. I've been coming over here to see you hoping I'd run into him."

"Why?" Haley asked confused.

"It's kind of hard to say…"

"Wait a minute. This isn't what I think this is…is it?"

"Haley…"

"You like him, don't you? Oh God, you have a crush on Cooper. That's what this is about."

"I can explain."

"First of all, Cooper is like way older than us. That's just wrong. And nevermind the fact that you have a boyfriend. What about Mouth? Mouth is such a sweet guy. And he really loves you, Rachel. You two are so good together. Why are you trying to hurt him?"

"Haley, Mouth is a great guy and I love him with all my heart. I would never intentionally hurt him. And yeah, Cooper may be a little hottie but I'm so not into him. College age, maybe. Approaching the big 3-0? Gross!"

"Then why are you trying to get closer to Cooper?"

"I'm not trying to hurt anybody. In fact, that's what I'm trying to stop. There is something Cooper really needs to know. Someone does have a crush on him and if she reveals it to him, the consequences could be devastating. But it's not me."

"I don't get it."

"Promise not to say anything?"

"I gave you my word", Haley nodded.

"It's Brooke."

"Brooke?"

"Yeah."

"Brooke? Are you sure? How do you know?"

"I overheard it in cheerleading practice", Rachel dramatically shook her head. "Poor thing. She's really into him, like stalker status almost."

Haley folded her arms.

"I don't believe you."

"It's true. I mean, he is a hot guy. He's older, more sophisticated and worldly. He's fun and funny and really nice and he's given her a lot of attention already at a time when she really needs it. Look, living in the land of Couple Bliss, maybe you haven't taken your eyes off Nathan long enough to see that Brooke is actually hurting. She loved Lucas a lot and he betrayed her…twice. He humiliated her. You just don't get over that overnight. Yeah, she might put on a brave face but it's really killing her. Lucas broke her heart and she's reminded of that every time she has to see him making out with Kelly. It's senior year and we all have a lot of decisions to make about next year and she's probably overwhelmed with that. Then someone like Cooper comes along and sweeps her off her feet. Brooke gets the wrong idea and an innocent schoolgirl crush goes horribly wrong. It could be a pretty embarrassing and hurtful situation."

Haley sighed. She felt bad. She had no idea.

"Does Cooper know how she feels?"

Rachel shook her head.

"No, I don't think so. But I wanted to tell him, talk to him. That way he can be prepared and do the right thing. That way Brooke doesn't get embarrassed or hurt anymore than she already has."

"Why are you doing this for her? You two have a really weird friendship, if you could even call it that. You thrive on getting under her skin and pushing her buttons. Why the sudden change of heart? Why now?"

"Because I'm not the heartless bitch you think I am. Like it or not, Brooke has grown on me. Don't get me wrong, I love messing with her. That'll never stop but this is different. This is big."

Haley shoved her hands in her pockets.

"What are you going to say? What are you going to do?"

"Tell Cooper the truth. Tell him to still be there for Brooke but more as a friend and role model. Tell him to let her down gently."

"I guess that's the best thing."

"It is. So I'm gonna do it and this stays between us. You don't say anything to her or to Nathan or even Cooper. And I'll never mention you were apart of this. A lot of people shouldn't have to know and if Brooke found out, you know how pissed and humiliated she would be. So please let me handle this. All you have to do is tell me how to find Cooper and then forget we ever had this little conversation."

"I…I don't know…"

"You know how much you love Nathan, right? You know how happy you two are together. What if you lost him? Imagine how lost you would be. And what if you thought you found something else, some sort of substitute but in the end it would only lead to disaster yet you were too blind to see that? Wouldn't you want someone looking after you?"

Haley thought. She thought about the interaction she'd had upstairs with her boyfriend just minutes before. Then she put herself in Brooke's shoes. It could happen to anyone.

"Cooper went out of town but he'll be back in a few days. I know he likes to go to that gym near Dan and Deb's country club over by the mall. He goes a lot on Saturday mornings."

Rachel nodded.

"Thanks, Haley. You're a good friend. You won't regret this", she said as she left.

Haley exhaled.

"I hope not", she thought out loud.

"What was that all about?" Nathan soon joined her out front. "Rachel leaving already?"

"Looks that way", Haley sighed.

"Can't complain about that. What did she want?"

"Nothing much."

He shrugged and planted a kiss on his girlfriend's forehead.

"Everything alright?"

Haley thought for a minute before wrapping her arms around Nathan and heading back into the house.

"It's gonna be."