Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or the Holiday

Note: AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING REVIEWS! Special shot out to all of you who came over from the CW Boards! Sorry this has taken awhile – I'm back in school and everything now.

Also, if you have time, check out the sneak peak of my new story, "Risk Meets Danger" (Working title). It's up on my LiveJoural – the link is on my profile!

XXXX

"So," Haley said as Nathan reached out for her hand, "Where are we going?"

Nathan had been planning a "secret trip" and wouldn't give Haley any clues.

"You are about to find out!" He laughed at her impatience. It was the only quality that he recognized from Brooke.

Haley sighed as she gave up and took his hand.

The past few days had been…wonderful. Surprisingly, Nathan had been a perfect gentleman since their kiss, although it had been a little awkward after.

"Okay." Haley said after Nathan finally pulled away. Both were completely oblivious to the other skaters who were all staring at them as they skated.

"Okay?" Nathan breathed, wondering why he was reacting this way. Haley was just another girl. He had kissed hundreds of them. Why did this feel different?

"Okay." Haley repeated, having no idea what else to say. She wanted to kiss him again, but her own embarrassment, which was causing her cheeks to turn red, kept her from moving.

"That's all you are going to say?" He laughed, trying to mask his own embarrassment. "I mean, usually I get a 'damn" or "ohhhhh Nathan," he groaned mockingly.

Haley rolled her eyes as she pushed herself up off the ice. "Oh Nathan," she whispered with a new found confidence in his ear seductively – or what she thought to be seductive. She had never tried to be seductive before. But it seemed to work since she heard Nathan's breath catch in his throat. "Oh Nathan," she repeated once more, "I've had better." Now it was Haley's turn to smirk and Nathan's turn to drop his jaw.

Haley laughed at his face and tried to "walk away" gracefully, but she forgot she was on ice and went barreling into another skater. She was graceful all right. Luckily, Nathan didn't decide she was a complete idiot or klutz. Instead, he just helped her out of the rink.

"Want some hot chocolate?" Nathan asked as Haley pulled the skates off her already swollen feet.

"Sure." Haley smiled back- glad he was letting her forget about the kiss.

"So," Nathan's smirk returned as he held the door open for her "About that kiss…" He trailed off as Haley's face turned unbelievably red.

"Look- can we just forget about that whole thing. I was just-" She began talking really fast, panicked.

But Nathan just laughed and cut her off, "Want to try it again?"

Since then they had basically become inseparable, except for when Nathan had basketball practice. He had taken her to the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Times Square, and several other New York cites.

They never took their physical relationship further than kissing, but emotionally they were becoming more and more attached.

Nathan had never met someone who was so willing to talk and listen to him like Haley. It was refreshing and he found himself dreading her departure.

"We're here." He finally said, stopping in front of the NYC gym.

"You are bringing me to the gym?" Haley frowned. She had been expecting something…well, better.

"I want you to see me play." He smiled, not smirked, Haley noticed.

"You didn't tell me you had a game tonight!" Haley lightly punched Nathan in the arm. She had kept asking him if he had a game while she was in town but he had diverted her questions every time, now she knew why.

"Well," He laughed, "I thought you might have guessed considering I'm wearing a suit and tie. I have to wear this when I show up at every game."

Haley blushed. She had thought he was just dressing up to bring her out to dinner or something.

"I have to warn you though," Nathan grabbed Haley's arm and pulled her to the side of the building so the hordes of people flocking into the gym could enter. Haley noticed that a lot of them were staring.

"I'm kind of…" Nathan looked for the right words to end his sentence. He didn't want to sound arrogant. He had never worried about that before, but being around Haley made him want to be better.

"A big deal?" Haley continued for him, raising and eyebrow and looking behind Nathan's shoulder.

Nathan turned around to find a large group of girls, who barely had any clothing on despite the cold, standing behind them, all wearing "I love Nathan Scott" tee-shirts and holding pens and posters of him to sign.

Nathan let out a deep breath and turned back to Haley. "Sort of." He finally responded to her last statement. "A lot of photographers are going to be taking our pictures when we walk in. Sometimes then end up in US or People. Rarely though – it's only when news is slow. There are also probably going to be people taking your picture while you are watching the game. Are you okay with this?"

Haley's eyes grew large and her mouth dropped. "No way! This is crazy!" She wanted to scream and run back to her, Brooke's, apartment. But then she realized that she came to New York for this. Well, not exactly this, but she came for excitement and change. This was definitely both. At least she was wearing her cute, dark jeans, and a beautiful dark green wrap sweater that she had borrowed (without asking) from Brooke's closet.

"Yeah," Haley smiled softly, and Nathan let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze before leading her towards the gym.

"Nathan Scott!" A thousand voices screamed at once as they tried to make their way down the packed hallway that led towards the gym.

"Who are you with?"

"What's your name baby?"

"Is it true you went out with Britney Spears?"

"Paris Hilton?"

"Are you engaged?"

"Are you really looking to transfer to USC?"

"Is that your sister?"

Haley's mind spun as Nathan ignored the thousands of questions and kept pulling her in the right direction. She didn't know how celebrities put up with this.

"I have to talk to People – they paid for a five minute interview." Nathan leaned down and whispered in Haley's ear and the flash bulbs went crazy.

"Okay." Haley responded because there was nothing else to say.

Nathan walked a little further before turning in a room labeled "Press."

Inside a small woman with jet black hair was smoothing out her hot pink skirt, which fell way above her knee length boots.

"Nathan!" She said loudly as if they were old friends. Haley watched as Nathan awkwardly hugged her and then took a seat on the couch opposite her and the camera crews. Nathan motioned for Haley to join him. She almost protested but the women seemed like she was going to explode with excitement and Haley didn't want to cause a scene.

"Well well!" The woman, who introduced herself as Candice Nackers started, "This is certainly a change." She grinned some more as she looked at Haley who felt like she was being picked apart from her gaze.

"Can we start?" Nathan asked, taking the attention away from Haley.

"Sure!" Candice clapped her hands together excitedly and Haley had to hold back a laugh.

"Nathan Scott. You are said to be the greatest player to come to NYC, or even the NCAA in years. What do you have to say about that?"

Nathan cleared his throat, "I don't know about that. I just go out onto the court and do what I know and what I love." He smiled, and Haley noticed it was a little forced. She didn't doubt that he loved the game; she just knew that he didn't like the position he was currently in.

"You are very modest!" Candice laughed again, "Is that why all the ladies love you? You were voted the hottest male in sports and were featured in People's one hundred hottest men. How does that make you feel?"

"Of course that makes me feel very good about myself, but what matters most to me is what people think about my personality."

This statement seemed to shock Candice, "But you were quoted as saying "Only ugly people say internal beauty is what matters."

Nathan took a deep breath, "I did say that. Now I am taking it back. As I mature, I am realizing what matters." He said, not really even knowing where is words were coming from.

"And what matters to you now?" She grinned wickedly as she looked at Haley.

"Well, basketball matters to me. I will always love the game. And there might be a certain girl that has me falling head over heels."

Candice's face lit up like she had won the lottery. Haley on the other hand could only stare at Nathan, not knowing whether to me mad at him for bringing her up in the interview or to kiss him for saying the words she had secretly wanted to hear.

"Might this girl be sitting right next to you?" Candice said to Nathan, although she was already looking at Haley.

Nathan shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. "Might be."

"Is this your girlfriend?" Candice pressed, leaning closer to the pair.

"I don't know yet. I haven't asked her." Nathan mused, turning to Haley. "Would you consider being my girlfriend?"

Haley was literally shocked into silence. This was so…so…perfect. She didn't care that she was going back to Tree Hill. She didn't care that she barely new Nathan. She didn't care that she was being filmed and her every word could show up in a magazine.

"Yes." She smiled, as Nathan's eyes sparkled with happiness. Ignoring the claps of Candice, she was obviously imagining her bonus, Nathan leaned down and gave Haley a soft, quick kiss.

"Times up!" A press manager called out and Nathan jumped up, grabbing Haley's hand.

"Nice talking to you Candice!" Nathan called out before pulling Haley out into the mob of reporters.

Haley was glowing now, and she didn't even care that a thousand cameras were all around her and she didn't care that Nathan wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. She just didn't care. Or was it that she cared more than she thought she could?

Finally, they made it into the restricted hallway where only players were allowed. "Gus is going to bring you to you seat." Nathan smiled and motioned to a guy dressed in all black.

"I'll see you." He winked before heading off into the dressing room.

XXXX

Haley took her seat. It was courtside- she couldn't believe it. This was so much different than watching Lucas at the River court. "He would love this!" She thought to herself, and she felt a pang in her heart. She was having an amazing time, but that didn't mean that she didn't miss her best friend.

"Hey." A raspy but nice voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to find a guy, about her age, sitting next to her. He was dressed in some jeans, a black tee shirt with a band she didn't know, and a red corduroy jacket. His hair was blond and spiked high on his head.

"Chris Keller." He stuck out his hand and Haley shook it.

"Haley James." She smiled, then caught eye of his guitar.

"Are you a singer?" She asked, her eyes lighting up. She loved music, it was always a childhood dream to be a singer. However, she knew the chances of ever making it.

"Yeah." He shrugged, as if it were common knowledge. "I'm singing the National Anthem before the game." He smirked, as if she were supposed to be speechless with amazement.

"That's amazing. I wish I could do that." She said out loud. It wasn't like she was ever going to see this guy again.

"Can you?" He asked, seeming a little bored.

"Well, I can play piano and I write my own songs. I sing too, but not in front of people." She admitted the truth. Lucas had heard her sing one time, when she was closing up the café and sat down at the piano. She hadn't known he was coming over, and he caught her singing. Of course, she made him swear not to tell and never sang for him again, even though he told her that she had a beautiful voice.

"Sing something for me right now." He turned so he was facing her completely.

Haley frowned, "No way."

"Oh come on." He rolled his eyes, but not in a playful way. In a way that says "you are so immature."

Haley didn't know why, but she felt like she needed to prove herself to him. Without telling him, she just began.

"I love the time and in between

The calm inside me

In the space where I can breathe

I believe there is a

Distance I have wandered

To touch upon the years of

Reaching out and reaching in

Holding out holding in

I believe

This is heaven to no one else but me

And I'll defend it as long as I can be

Left here to linger in silence

If I choose to

Would you try to understand?"

Haley stopped and turned red, realizing that she had only meant to sing a couple of verses.

Chris raised his eyebrows as if he were shocked that she could actually sing. "Not bad," he mused.

"Sing the National Anthem with me." He finally said, as the lights began dimming and the crowd began going crazy.

"What?" She yelled over the crowd as the announcer began calling out the names of each teams starting lineup.

"Nathan Scott!" His name pulled her away from her panic for a second. She started clapping as Nathan ran out onto center court. He looked over at her long enough to catch her eye and flash her a smile before turning his attention back to the court.

"Come on!" Chris urged her once again. "Stop being a baby. It's now or never." He held out his hand, an evil smirk playing across his face.

Temptation is Chris Keller.

Haley bit her lip, a habit that she usually obstained from.

"Okay." She said before she could think about the thousands of people that were going to be watching her. She had taken a risk with Nathan and look where that got here? Exactly where she wanted to be. Maybe this was the same kind of risk.

"And now…Chris Keller to sing the National Anthem!" The announcer called as girls' screams filled the building. Apparently Chris Keller was a lot more known than Haley had thought.

She walked with Chris to the middle of the court where there was one chair and a microphone. Chris motioned for Haley to sit on the chair and hold the microphone. She did as she was told, trying to focus on the distance instead of one the thousands of faces staring at her. Chris quickly pulled out his guitar and strapped it around him. Haley held the microphone between them, her hands shaking a little. She kept thinking any minute she was about to wake up.

His raspy voice made her jump as he spoke, "Hey guys. I'm Chris Keller and this is Haley James. We are going to be singing for you tonight!" At his words the screams started up again and Haley noticed a few hoots and hollers coming from guys' voices.

Chris began strumming his guitar and Haley suddenly felt like she could throw up at any second. In fact – she was pretty sure she was going to. She knew it was time to open her mouth to sing, so she did, and out came…words.

"Oh-oh say can you see,

by the dawn's early light,

what so proudly we hailed,

at the twilight's last gleaming?

Who broad stripes and bright stars,

through the perilous fight,

or the ramparts we watched,

were so gallantly streaming.

And the rocket's red glare,

the bombs burst in air,

gave proof through the night,

that our flag was still there.

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free,

and the home of the brave."

The crowd exploded with applause and Haley's smile was threatening to pull all the muscles in her face. She had actually done it. She had sang. In front of people! The best part was as soon as she started singing, she hadn't been nervous anymore. It had just been…perfect.

As she followed Chris back to their seats, she caught Nathan's face. He wasn't smiling. In fact, he looked upset.

Haley frowned, trying to figure out what was the matter from a distance. He surely couldn't be upset that she had sung with Chris, could he?

XXXX

"Nathan!" Haley ran up to him after the game. They had won by a considerable amount of points.

Nathan turned away from Haley and clapped hands with one of his teammates.

Haley tried again, "Nathan?" She placed a hand on his arm and he pulled away.

"Don't you have a date with Chris Keller?" He said darkly, showing Haley a side she had never seen before.

"What are you talking about? Chris…I just sang with him! What is your problem?" She stopped walking after him.

"I saw him give you his number!" He also stopped walking and turned around to face him.

"Nathan! Do you hear yourself? He gave me his number to help with me with my music! Oh, and even if he did, what does that matter to you?" She raised her voice a little higher. Sure, Nathan had asked her to be his girlfriend, but who knows what "girlfriend" meant to him.

Nathan took a deep breath. He was overacting a little – he had to admit that. It was just that when he saw Haley singing with Chris he couldn't help but feel something he had never felt before.

Jealousy is Nathan Scott.

"I'm sorry." He started, taking a step back towards Haley. "Can we go get some hot chocolate and talk?" He asked, his voice considerably softer.

Haley couldn't help but smile a little at Nathan's too-cute attempt to make things right. "Sure."

XXXX

"It's okay Nathan!" Haley laughed after he kissed her again. "I forgive you!"

Nathan had apologized for acting the way he had, admitting that he had felt jealous. Of course, Haley teased him a little, but only playfully.

"Hey." She said, taking a sip of her coffee. "I want to know about you. I've already told you so much about me." It was true, on all of their outings Nathan had asked tons of questions, but had never reveled a lot about himself. Not really personal things anyway.

"What do you want to know?" He smiled, also taking a sip of his hot chocolate.

"Where are your parents?" It was a simple question, one that she expected and easy answer to.

Nathan however, took a deep breath and allowed a long pause. "My mom is living here in New York. But…she's in rehab. She's addicted to prescription drugs."

Haley reached out and grabbed Nathan's hand. "I'm so sorry."

"I've never told anyone that." He said more to himself than anyone. "You make me do strange thing Haley James."

Haley didn't know what to say to this, so she just smiled and waited for Nathan to continue.

"My dad…well, I never met him. He left after he got my mom pregnant."

At this, Haley dropped Nathan's hand and put her own hands on her mouth. This was too similar.

"Nathan…is your mom's last name Scott?"

Nathan gave her a confused look and shook his head, "No, it was my dad's – who knows why she gave it to me. Maybe she thought he would come back."

As Nathan said this, Haley kept shaking her head over and over. "This is not happening." She whispered, reaching for her cell phone.

"Who Haley!" Nathan caught her hands. "What's going on?"

"Is your dad's name Dan?" She whispered again, looking him in the eye.

It was Nathan's turn to shake his head, "How…how did you know that?"

"I think my best-friend is your brother."

XXXX

A/N: There it is! The secret is out:o) Hope you liked it! There are only about four more chapters left!

Next up! Brucas!

He