Thanks to OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, nathan023, Sw33t Lavender, Western, Nathanlvr, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, and mistydm for reviewing! Glad you are all enjoying! Sorry it took so long for me to post this next chapter! I've been very busy cause I'm getting a puppy this weekend! hehe and school and work, too, but the puppy is most important to me! ENJOY!

Chapter Three

HALEY POV

Rachel and I spent hours just sitting after lunch, talking about the old days. We didn't always have time to chat about it and it felt really good to be able to.

"You and Nathan were so in love back then," she said and I smiled.

"Yeah, we were," I agreed. Still are, I thought silently.

"I don't even remember why the two of you broke it off," she said with a frown. "Do you remember why you did?"

I knew. I knew very well. I was going to Stanford and he was going to Duke. We planned on getting back together when I got home. We did, too. We were never the same, though, because I screwed up royally. That's why he won't just be with me. It has nothing to do with Brooke! It's all about me.

"Haley? Hello!" she waved her hand in front of my face.

I snapped back into reality and shook my head. "I can't really remember. It was almost 5 years ago!" I replied with a slight laugh.

She smiled. "You two would make the cutest married couple! Mouth and I always thought you'd get married right out of high school."

I nodded. "So did I," I muttered. "Nathan is a really great man. He would make the perfect husband."

She crinkled her nose. "You still talk to Nate?" she asked.

Oops. "Uh, yeah, sometimes," I replied. "We don't really talk that much." Unless you think every night is a lot…

"Wow, that's really cool, Hales!" she said. She used Nathan's nickname for me. It made me think about him. Made me want to see him. "Do you two ever talk about the old days? Have you ever thought about getting back together, if you weren't with Lucas that is?"

I felt like laughing. She had no idea what was really going on and this girl is my best friend? I sure am a horrible person. Sneaky, sure, but horrible. "Sure, we talked about it once or twice, but I'm with Luke and he has a girlfriend that he's been with all through out college. We'd probably ruin each others lives if we were together."

She shook her head. "No, you two were perfect. I still say you two should get married! Not that I don't love Lucas or anything! I just don't see the same chemistry that you and Nate had," she said and then her phone rang. "It's Mouth, I have to take this."

I nodded. "Go ahead," I replied and she stood up, walking off. I pulled out my own phone. I had turned it on silent after Nathan had called. I didn't want any more interruptions during our little meeting. I had 2 missed calls from Lucas. I sighed, not really wanting to deal with him right now. I dialed his number anyway and waited for him to pick up.

"Hey," he said shortly. "You at home?"

"No," I said with a sigh. "Do you need something? I'm working."

He let out a frustrated groan. "Haley, we have to talk about this! You've been sneaking around with him again! How am I supposed to trust you? Why do you think I'd be okay with this?"

"I didn't think you'd be okay with it, Lucas! I didn't think at all!" I whispered harshly, wanting to yell. "Do we really have to do this over the phone? Can you not wait until I get home?"

"Well, you'd better hurry, Haley, because I'm packing up my stuff," he said and hung up.

"Shit!" I said out loud, earning several looks. I grabbed my purse and started to walk out. I saw Rachel still talking on the phone and I motioned that I needed to say something.

"Hang on, Mouth," she said and covered the mouthpiece. "What's up?"

I sighed. "I have to rush. I have an emergency with Lucas. He's threatening to move out and it's a really long story, so I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

She nodded and hugged me. "I hope everything works out. Call me if you need anything!"

I gave her a small smile and walked out. I got into my car and sped off. My phone rang. It was Nathan. "Listen, now's not a good time," I said and there was silence. "Listen, Nate, say what you have to say! I've got to deal with Lucas!" Still silence. "Nathan, what's wrong? Talk to me, babe!"

"So you're the girl, huh?" came a female voice.

I was stunned. I didn't know what to say, so I just hung up. "Great," I muttered. "More shit on my plate! How did I get so damn lucky?"

I parked and ran up to our apartment. The door was open and his best friend Jake was helping him move his stuff. "Haley," Jake said with a nod and a glare.

"Where's Lucas?" I asked. He pointed towards our bedroom and I walked over there. He was sitting on our bed, looking at a picture. It was of Rachel, Mouth, Nate and I at graduation. How it got here, I don't know. I had it in a box in my closet… "Hey," I said and he didn't even look up.

"This him?" he asked, pointing to Nathan.

I sighed. "Luke-"

"Is it?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it is."

He looked at me now, tears shining in his eyes. "I always knew I didn't have your whole heart, but I did think I had a part of it. I guess I was wrong, huh?" he said bitterly.

I reached out to hug him and surprisingly, he let me. "Lucas, I'm not with him anymore! I broke it off last night, I swear!" I lied. "I only want you, Lucas! Nathan and I don't go together. I want to be with you."

He pulled back, shaking his head. "Do you have your phone with you?" he asked.

I gave him a confused look. "Yeah, I do. Why?"

He held out his hand. "Let me see it?" he asked.

I hesitated but gave it to him. He scrolled through it, but I knew what he was looking for. "Luke-"

"Why'd you talk to him while you were 'working' but didn't answer for me?" he asked, standing up. "Why did you talk to him at all if I'm all you want, Haley? Huh?"

I had tears streaming down my face. This was it. I was really going to lose Luke this time. I truly hurt someone I cared about. Twice. "Lucas, I know you don't want to hear what I have to say anymore, but you have to know that I do love you! You mean so much to me, Lucas, and I never meant to hurt you!"

He laughed bitterly and shook his head. "I can't believe you can sit there and say that with a straight face! You were with him the entire time you were with me! You couldn't just let him go!" he screamed. "Does he have a girl on the side, too? Is this some sick joke you play on people?" I stayed silent. "He does, doesn't he? Well, I hope I run into her one day so she knows what an ass she's dating!"

"She already knows about me," I said softly.

"And she's okay with it?" he screamed.

I shook my head. "She just found out as I was coming over here. She called me on his cell," I explained. "Lucas, where are you gonna go?" I asked softly.

He shrugged. "I'm going to stay with Jake for a while and then who knows? I might get a new apartment," he explained. "But that doesn't matter to you, does it? You never really cared about my feelings."

I sighed. "You can say that all you want, Lucas, but it's not true. Sure, my heart lies with another man, but I still care for you."

He shook his head. "Goodbye, Haley. I hope you're happy with yourself. Hell, I don't even know you anymore. I don't even know if I ever did," he said and left the room.

I sat on our bed until I heard them leave. I laid back, allowing the tears to fall freely.

NATHAN POV

"Get up, Nathan! Now!"

I moved in bed, hearing Brooke screaming at me. "What is it, Brooke?" I asked, sitting up.

She threw my phone at me. I'm glad I have good reflexes. Otherwise it would've hit me in the face. "Who is she?" she screamed.

"Brooke, what are you talking about?" I asked with a sigh.

"You have some number listed as WORK, but it's not work, is it Nathan?" she asked, tears falling from her eyes. "It's her!"

I stood up and walked over to her. "Brooke, did you call my work?" I asked, slightly pissed but nervous Haley might of said something to give us away.

She nodded. "But it's not work, Nathan! It's a girl! A girl that calls you babe and said something about dealing with Lucas!" she screamed.

I thought quickly on my feet, thank god. "Brooke, Haley is my secretary and Lucas is a coworker. He's always an ass to her and she has a hard time dealing with him, okay?" I said, stepping closer to her.

She didn't move back, but wasn't ready to believe me yet. "Why should I believe you?" she asked, sniffling.

I dared to take another step to her. "Because I wouldn't do that to you, Brooke, and it really makes me upset that you keep saying I am! Don't you trust me?"

She sighed and moved in to hug me. "I do, Nathan, but you've just been so distant that I don't know what to think anymore! I'm sorry that I'm going crazy! I just love you so much and I don't want to lose you!" she sobbed into my chest.

I held her close, not saying a word. I rocked her back and forth until she stopped. She looked up at me and I smiled down at her. "Do you believe me now?" I asked. She nodded. "Are you going to accuse me of cheating anymore?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Nate. I'm just crazy jealous. I mean, look at you! What girl wouldn't want you?"

I laughed. "Look at you, Brooke! Don't you think I think the same thing everyday? You can have any man in the world, Brooke Davis. You are amazing, sexy, smart. You're everything a man wants! I worry about guys hitting on you, but you know what? I trust you. I know you won't do anything to jeopardize us. You need to trust that I'm doing the same."

She nodded. "I will, Nathan. I trust you and I know that you don't want to hurt me," she replied and hugged me again.

I let out a sigh of relief. I managed to get myself out of another jam. Now I just have to call Haley when Brooke's asleep to see what the whole conversation was like.

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