"Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

Nathan thought that everything with Haley was going to be perfect. He would call her everyday and they would talk for hours about how life was treating them. It all seemed like the perfect, fool proof plan, but in reality it was so much more. Sure, he called her, but then he realized something. Hearing her voice, but not being able to be there in person was by far to hard to take. He was tired of the fact that he couldn't be with her, that there was always something in his way.

Sighing, Nathan placed his feet up on his coffee table, flipping through the TV. Ever since he had retired, life had been - well it had been boring. He found himself frequently sitting around and doing nothing, which was just not going to fly anymore. It was about time he made some changes in his life. Sure, they would seem drastic, but he had to do it.

Lucas walked into his brother's house, not surprised at the state of chaos it was currently in. When he returned back from Boston, Nathan was different. He no longer acted like a mature adult, but the irresponsible college student that Lucas hated. Lucas groaned when he saw the kitchen. Beer bottles and take out boxes all over the place. Geez, he didn't come over for a few days and everything goes to hell. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Nathan looked up from his comfortable spot on the couch. "Do you got the time?"

"Oh don't give me that shit, Nathan." Lucas fought the urge to roll his eyes. Nathan was known to be a tad bit on the whiny side, today was just one of those days. "You have seriously turned into Pod Nathan. Two months ago you were giddy and in love and now you're - well you are being a compete asshole."

"Why don't you just shut the fuck up?" Nathan replied with irritation. He was in no mood to fight with his older brother, certainly not over his current behavior. If he wanted to mope around and be miserable, that was his God given right. "Seriously, it has been a rough day."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "Are you kidding me?" Nathan stared at him. "Nathan, you didn't do anything today. You sat around and played your stupid video games and then drank a lot."

"What's your point? The Duke game is about to start..."

He was flabbergasted. This was just unbelievable! "You are 28 years old. When are you going to grow up?" Nathan shrugged his shoulders, taking a long drink from his Scotch. "I know you miss Haley..."

"Lucas, don't even try and start that with me." Nathan growled. Apparently Lucas had hit a sore spot. "I do not want to talk about Haley James. Do you got that?"

There was something going on and Lucas knew it. He had been talking to Brooke and she was filling him on how Haley was acting. She was crying more then usual and being unreasonably mean, something completely out of character. There was all but one answer to this solution.

Nathan was breaking her heart.

"It's okay to miss her..." Lucas told him. "You love her and I -"

"I don't love her."

Lucas squinted and sat down next to his brother. This was not normal. Nathan would never openly say he was not in love with Haley. No way in hell. "Are you kidding me?" Nathan didn't respond, but merely sat watching his game. "Alright, I didn't think I was going to have to do this, but I guess you leave me no choice."

"What are you talking about Lucas?" Nathan asked confused. His brother was on something that was for sure. "Look, I really just want to be left alone - "

" You are going to move to Boston."

Nathan spit out his Scotch on the floor. "WHAT?" He slammed his glass down on the table. There was no way he was moving. Who the hell did Lucas think he was? Did he even have the right to ship him off to Boston? "I'm not going."

"Yes you are." Lucas argued. "I talked to someone and they are going to let you stay with them."

"NO!" Nathan protested. This was absurd! How could Lucas just send him to Boston? He was not going to live with some stranger. No way in hell. "Right, well who will I be staying with?"

"Haley James."

---------------

"I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS SHIT!" Haley yelled as she slammed her bedroom door shut. What in God's name was Brooke thinking? Sending Nathan to live here? No no no no no. This was just completely insane and just not happening. OH, Haley was going to kill Brooke. No, not kill - something more painful. Sure, they had this wonderful night together, but then he just never called. Okay, maybe he called once, but that was it! It was all so clear as to why she could not stand Nathan Scott. They would have such great times together and then he would run away.

He could not stay in her apartment. Why would this work? How could Brooke even think this could work? "I HATE YOU BROOKE!"

"No you don't." Brooke said from outside the door. "Deep down you are so happy that you just want to sex him up right away." She bit down on her lip to stop from giggling. This was by far the best thing Lucas had ever conjured up. Her boy was such a genius.

"When is HE coming?" Haley yelled, frantically trying to clean up her room.

This was where it got messy. "Um, in about an hour..."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

Brooke groaned and placed her forehead against the door. She knew Haley was going to be pissed off, but never did she expect it to be this bad. "Come on Hales, you love him."

"I DO NOT."

"But you said -"

"I LIED!"

It when on like that for about five minutes. Brooke desperately tried to assure Haley that this was a good thing, that Nathan was completely thrilled about it. Haley couldn't help but roll her eyes at the bare faced lie. She knew Nathan and it was painfully obvious that he was in no way happy about this arrangement. "I'm going to die."

"Stop being such a drama queen." Brooke replied with a cheeky smile. "You are going to be fine. It's not like he is going to be here for that long, maybe a week or month or maybe two - " Haley's mouth dropped open. " we will most certainly get on those itty bitty details later, but no need to worry! Brooke's got your back."

Haley groaned and buried her head under the mountain of pillows that she had put on her bed. "I can't be put through this emotional hell anymore. I spent my whole senior year helping him and being put through living hell, I can't do it again."

"But you fell in love with him..." Brooke told her. "Apparently it wasn't as bad as you are making it out to be."

Haley wished that she was overreacting, but in truth she wasn't.

Her past with Nathan was everything she described it to be. Sure, they had their nice little date a few months ago, but the past was always there. Because she was so desperately and pathetically in love with him, she let herself be used. When he wanted to have sex, she was there. If he needed someone to comfort her, she was there. It was so pathetic that Haley could not help but be ashamed of her behavior. Ten years later and it was all the same. "Brooke you have no idea."

"Enlighten me then."

Haley giggled softly as she felt Nathan's arms wrap around her waist. He placed a soft kiss on her neck, but then he began to bite and suck hard. She turned to face him, their bodies molding together perfectly. Nathan licked his lips and kissed her hungrily. His kisses were something Haley never experienced before. The way he left her wanting more was just a pain in her ass. She could not want more from Nathan. It was obvious the arrangement that was going on. When Nathan had a bad day or no girl was around, he went to her. After they slept together that one stupid time, he thought it was his way in and in some strange way, it was.

She pulled away and looked up into his blue eyes, which were beginning to turn dark. "Why don't you want to be with me?" Nathan leaned in to kiss her once again, but Haley jerked away. "Answer the question, Nathan."

"Why can't you just fucking leave it alone?" He yelled, slamming his fit on the desk. "It's so fucking simple, but you need to make it so damn complicated."

Tears blurred her vision as she slumped down on the floor feeling defeated. "I don't understand you."

"I told you before, I am never going to love you." Nathan spit out. "Just because we have sex doesn't mean we are anything. Do you get that?" Haley didn't respond, she just sat on the floor, staring up at Nathan. "God, why do you have to act like such a damn girl? It's just sex."

Haley laughed spitefully. "You are such an asshole!"

"Why don't tell me something I haven't heard a million times?"
Nathan asked with a smirk. "Haley, look I know you were a virgin -"

"Shut the fuck up."

Nathan smiled to himself, he knew he was getting to her. It was all one big mind came with Haley. He would use her, make her feel like she was everything to him, then he'd rip the rug right out from under her. "I am the only one who knows how you like it Haley..."

"Stop." She whispered painfully, blinking back the ocean of tears that were falling. "Don't do this Nathan."

He wished he could stop, but he wanted to hurt her. All the pain that he was feeling because she was such a frustrating girl was beyond his control. Nathan leaned up against the door and looked down at Haley, she was being so pathetic. "You're a fraud, Haley."

"What?" She choked out between a sob. "How am I a fraud?"

Nathan rolled his eyes in exaggeration. Was she really this stupid or was this all another act? "Don't act like a moron, Haley. You know exactly what I am taking about. You pride yourself on being this strong person, but a little thing like this is completely tearing you apart."

"I hate you." Haley yelled as she jumped up on her feet, prepared to go head to head with him. She stood up on her tip toes and slapped him right across the face. "I may cry and I may be upset, but it doesn't mean that I am afraid to kick your ass." Nathan grabbed her wrist and jerked it away from his face. "Just because you have a fucking horrible life doesn't mean you can take it out on me! I am trying to help you for God sake's and you sit here and make me feel like shit."

Haley breathed in deeply, not even close to being finished her rant. "What have I ever done to you?" Nathan looked away, but she grabbed his cheek and made him look her directly in the eye. "No, you are not going to run away. I want to know what I ever did to you."

"Everything."

Brooke sat there in complete shock. How could Haley be in love with such a prick? She could not get over the fact that Haley let herself be used and ten years later it was still happing. Maybe it was a mistake that she was bringing Nathan here? No, there had to be something good about him. "Haley..." She whispered. "Why didn't you ever tell me he treated you like that?"

"It's really hard to relive." Haley admitted with a small shrug. "Look, Nathan is a lot of things, but I know he never really wanted to hurt me." Brooke scoffed, but that didn't surprise Haley. Most people didn't understand why she never left Nathan.

"It's just really complicated."

"Duh." Brooke said with a smile. "I - I really am sorry that he is coming here..."

Haley waved her hand. "It's alright. Wait - no. It's not alright, but I don't hate you. I'm mad and will probably end up in jail for a DOUBLE homicide, but it's all good in the hood."

"There really is something there?" Brooke asked eagerly. "Because right now all I see is a sick, selfish bastard."

"Brooke, you have no idea..."

Haley hated herself for crying over him. He was just a stupid guy who she was going to just forget about in a year, but still the pain was undeniable. Sure, she knew that Nathan was mean, but never did she expect him to be evil about it. There was nothing she had left, but to sit and write a song. It always helped her get over the crap that happened during the day.

It was another Sunday and it was raining and it was just not a good day. Haley fiddled with her guitar a bit, trying to figure out the music. The lyrics were simple, but it was finding the right tune to fit those beautiful lyrics. She let out a heavy sigh and began to sing. "It's loneliest when you're here. It's quietly when you're right beside me. I don't say it to hurt you, I just miss the touch of his hand."

She had to force herself to hate him, but it was damn near impossible. "The loneliness is better near now. Than to satisfy the crave. The loneliness is better near now. Than to satisfy the crave, and start all over ."

"But I like fingertips on my face. The glances I can retrace in my mind. The holding onto me so I feel it and fall into it. Chase the memories away I know I'm not the same, but I'm wishful And I'm strained and strange. And though I won't complain I know I stray, I know I stay." Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and Haley didn't care.

"An ocean away. A woman at bay. She shoots up a flare and beckons him near and the closer you get the safer I am ,But the further I run to hide me in the dark..." She laid back on her bed, not even singing was releasing this pain.

"Who knew Haley James could sing?" Nathan replied from the doorway. He was soaking wet and looked pathetic, and Haley was glad. There was no need for him to be feeling any better then she was. No, he had suffer. "Can I come in?"

She scrunched up her nose in protest. "I'd rather you not. I just cleaned my room and I don't want your funky self all up in it."

"That's fair." Nathan replied as he sat down on the floor, leaning up against the door frame. "I really liked that song you were singing -"

" Just get on with why you are here." Haley replied annoyed. She was in no mood to hear Nathan apologize for the millionth time.
Nathan let out a heavy sigh. He had a feeling that Haley was going to be difficult to handle, but he didn't think she would be like this.

Yes, he hurt her and made her feel like she was nothing but an object, but Nathan believed with his whole heart that she wouldn't think it was true. "I didn't mean what I said. Look, I was really angry Haley."

"It doesn't matter." She responded sit up from her spot on the bed. "I - I can't do this anymore."
Nathan's heart began to beat fast. "You mean this whole counseling thing?"

"No, I just - I won't have sex with you anymore."

Nathan struggled to hold back a roll of the eyes. Why was she making it so complicated? "I - understand."

"No you don't." She bit out snidely. "You don't want to piss me off."

He laughed softly, nodding his head in agreement. "That's true, but I am really sorry. Okay, so we won't have sex anymore..."

"Does that mean you are just going to go off and screw other girls?" Her voice was soft and childlike, which surprised Nathan.

Was there a right answer to that question. Surely she didn't think that he would just - wait for her? They weren't a couple and they weren't in love. It was all about sex and using one another. As screwed up as the logic was, it seemed to work most of the time. "Haley - I - "

"It's okay." She mumbled, giving him a strained smile. "It was just sex."

Nathan cocked his eyebrow in confusion. Was she kidding? "Oh, alright. I guess we are cool now?"

"Yep."

Brooke had no time to respond, because there was a loud banging on the door. Haley looked up and fear could be seen in her eyes.

Everything was about to change. "Well, I guess we better go and get that..."

"I guess so..."