"HALEY WE ARE IN HOLLYWOOD! Can you believe this! This is so AMAZING!" Haley looked up from her magazine and laughed at Brooke. "Aren't you excited?"
"Brooke, of course I am but I mean it's just some stupid awards show. I can't believe we've been on the road for 3 months already and that I am nominated for a teen choice award!" Brooke squealed and sat down on Haley's bed. They were sitting in her room on the tour bus. They hadn't seen or spoke to anyone from Tree Hill in 3 months, well except Mouth. He always phoned. Brooke had sent her sketches in to a few people and was waiting to hear from them. Brooke looked down at the magazine that Haley was reading.
"Hey that's you! Haley James, the hot new artist, has been seen canoodling with her tour partner, Chris Keller. It has been said that the two of been privately dating for the last 4 months. There has been no comment from either two stars. Oh my, now everyone thinks you're dating Chris." Haley nodded and threw the magazine down. "What's wrong?"
"I miss everyone, I don't care that they blamed me for the accident, I miss them. You know at the hospital Nathan told me he loved me but then I told him I was in town that whole day and he blamed me. I felt so horrible." Brooke put an arm around Haley and hugged her close. "I want to go home, Nathan's birthday is soon. He'll be 18, I wish I could be there."
"Yeah, well they are all graduated now and will be going off to school in like a month. So what did happen with Nathan then?" Haley sighed and grabbed a letter that was in her purse. It was from Karen.
"It says in here that Nathan ended up being fine, he got a scholarship to Duke. Lucas got one too. Peyton and Jake are going to some art school in New York. She asked me to come home for Nathan's birthday but I don't think I can." Brooke read the letter and sighed.
"I miss home too Haley but this is our life now Haley." Haley nodded, knowing she was right. Her phone started to ring and she answered it.
"Hello!"
"Haley, wow, never ever thought I'd be talking to a big star!"
"KAREN, hey, how are you? How is everyone?"
"Everyone's good! I want to know if you are going to come to Nathan's party."
"I'm not sure, where and when is it?"
"It's at Tric, this Friday, at 8:00 pm. Please come!"
"I'll see Karen but I should go, Bye." Haley hung up her phone and looked at Brooke. "Do you want to go?"
"We could but what if they just tell us to leave."
"Then we will." Brooke nodded and looked at the Calendar. "So, should I book a flight then?"
"Yeah go for it!" Haley smiled and hugged Brooke. "I'm glad you brought me Tutorgirl."
"Me too Tigger!"
Friday, 8:00 pm, Tric
"Happy Birthday Nathan!" Nathan turned around and smiled at Jake and Peyton! He gave Peyton a hug and shook Jake's hand.
"Thanks, so when you two leaving for New York?" Jake and Peyton looked between each other and smiled.
"We decided to go to UNC instead." Nathan smiled.
"That's great, we'll all be close. Now if only Brooke and Haley were here-"
"Nathan, they almost ruined your life." Nathan shook his head at Peyton. "Yes they did!"
"No, it's my fault because none of this would have happened if I had just been honest with Haley in the first place or at least kept in touch with her." Peyton shook her head and Nathan sighed. "Anyways I don't want to talk about it, let's have some fun."
"Perfect idea!" Nathan turned around and smiled at his brother. Lucas gave him a small hug and handed him a present. Nathan put it on the table with the others and walked back over to Lucas, Peyton and Jake. "So, my mom's acting very weird tonight!"
"Whys that?" Lucas looked at Peyton, and then pointed at his mom. Karen was pacing in front of the bar and kept looking at the door. "I wonder who she is waiting for."
"Who knows, c'mon let's go have some fun." Nathan laughed at Lucas and followed him over to where a group of girls were. Lucas started to flirt with them but Nathan just stayed quiet. He looked around and stopped when he saw two girls putting a present down at the table. One had dark brown hair and the other had blonde hair. The girls turned around and Nathan got a look at their faces. He dropped his drink when he realized who it was. He started making his way over to them but was stopped by a group of people wishing him a happy birthday. He thanked them and walked over to the table but they were already gone. He looked around again and saw them with Karen and Mouth. He quickly made his way over to them, this time he wasn't stopped. He watched Haley as she laughed and he just wanted to hug her. He stood behind the two girls, Mouth noticed that Nathan was standing there. Nathan didn't notice that Mouth had seen him, he was staring at the back of Haley's head. Mouth grabbed Brooke and Haley's hands and dragged them across the room.
"Wow, Mouth where's the fire?" Brooke asked laughing. Mouth pointed behind them and they saw Nathan standing there. "Oh, he was behind us hey!"
"Yeah and I wasn't sure if you were ready to see him or not, so I dragged you over here." Haley nodded and looked over at Nathan. She felt tears in her eyes, she wanted to talk to him so bad.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE THE TWO OF YOU DOING HERE!" Haley turned around to see the angry eyes of Peyton Sawyer. The music had now stopped and everyone was staring at them.
"Peyton we were invited." Peyton rolled her eyes and continued to glare at the two.
"Shut up Brooke! NO ONE WANTS THE TWO OF YOU HERE! SO LEAVE!" Haley nodded and turned to go but Brooke stopped her.
"NO PEYTON, WE WERE INVITED. NOW IF NATHAN SAYS WE HAVE TO LEAVE, THEN WE WILL." Haley groaned, she knew Nathan would kick them out.
"Well then bye because he doesn't want you here. Especially you Haley, you almost ruined his life." Haley nodded, knowing that all this was true. She was crying freely now and she turned to walk away but she was grabbed into a hug. Right away she knew it was Lucas.
"I missed you." Haley nodded and grabbed onto him tighter. "I'm so sorry!"
"Me too." She smiled up at him but then was pulled out of his embrace.
"LEAVE HALEY! GO BACK TO YOUR BOYFRIEND CHRIS!" Haley rolled her eyes.
"He is not my boyfriend!" Haley pulled her arm away from Peyton, she was sick of Peyton yelling at her like this. "Listen Blondie, don't act like you are all innocent with why I left. You were the one who encouraged me to go. You were the one who told me we would keep in touch. You were the one who NEVER called. I did come back, just to be thrown out like an old toy. So blame me for everything, I don't care."
"You're such a bitch you know that. I cannot believe I was ever friends with you Peyton." Brooke grabbed Haley's hand and the two of the walked to the door. They were just about to walk out when Nathan stood in front of the door. Haley stopped dead and stared at him, she had no clue what to say.
"You don't have to leave. You can stay." Brooke nodded, Haley just smiled. "Thanks for coming to my party."
"No problem, Happy Birthday Nate." Nathan nodded at Brooke and walked away, glancing at Haley one more time. Brooke turned to Haley and slapped her across the head. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I don't know! I wanted to but I couldn't. I was like frozen." Haley looked over at Nathan, he was staring at her. Brooke gave her a little push and Haley walked over to him. "Hey!"
"Hi." Nathan stared down at her, no emotion on his face.
"How are you?" Nathan scanned the crowd and saw Peyton glaring at them. Jake rolled his eyes at his girlfriend and walked away. Lucas had made his way to Brooke and was now talking to him. "Well, Happy Birthday Nathan."
Haley turned and walked away, tears were falling down her cheeks. She ran to the door and left the building as fast as she could. She sat down on the curb with her head in her hands, sobbing. She felt someone sit beside her and she knew it wasn't Brooke. She slowly looked up and saw Nathan.
"Haley-" Haley stood up cutting him off.
"Happy Birthday Nathan." She gave him a present and walked down the street. Nathan sighed and opened the present. It was a picture of the two of them when Haley filled in as a cheerleader. He opened the card and started to read it.
Nathan,
I am truly sorry for everything that has happened. I was so relieved to hear that you were okay and that your basketball career was okay. I hope you have a happy birthday and the present that is from me and Brooke is way bigger than this. I just wanted to give you something personal. Well you probably won't see me at the party and I'm sorry for that. I just don't think I can look at you without wanting to tell you that I love you. Which I do, Nathan I will always love you. So Happy Birthday and good luck in the future.
Love, Haley
