A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!

Chapter Forty-Three

Haley was standing outside the main entrance to her apartment building getting ready to say goodbye. She knew she had to be strong, but she was more upset than she had thought she would be.

Her relationship with Nathan had blossomed in no time at all. They had yet to go out on a proper date, owing to the fact that he hadn't gotten off the crutches too long ago and both she and Karen, who Haley was quickly bonding with as well, hadn't wanted him to strain himself. He had reluctantly agreed so they had spent most of their time at his uncle's house, apart from the one time she showed him around her apartment and they accidentally walked in on Jake as he was coming out of the shower. Haley managed to suppress a giggle, but couldn't help the smile that spread on her face at that memory.

"What's funny?"

Haley looked over at Nathan who was making sure all the bags fit in the trunk of the car and shook her head. "Nothing."

He gave her a curious look, but then shook his head and returned to his task.

Jake was going back to Charleston. His two weeks of leave had passed and now he had to go back to work. Haley and Nathan were waiting downstairs while Peyton and Jake made sure he had got all of his stuff that had been at their apartment, where he had practically lived once he and Peyton had reunited.

Although she would be joining Jake in Charleston in a little more than a month, Haley knew that Peyton would be upset and she'd have to be there for her friend to lean on, but Jake's departure was reminding her only too well of Nathan's imminent one. Despite their relationship developing, she and Nathan had yet to discuss their future. He liked to avoid serious talks, and always told her that they would work things out. Well, she didn't see how they would work out if they didn't do something about them, and she was tired of ignoring it.

However, she still didn't know what to say to him. She didn't want him to leave, but could she ask him to stay? Would he? She could go with him to Charleston, but was that what she really wanted? It was different for Peyton because she hadn't grown up in Tree Hill like Haley had. Tree Hill was her home. She had never even been to Charleston before. What if she went with him just because she didn't want to be left alone and she ended up hating it there and resenting him for taking her there.

Haley knew she was over thinking things – they were, after all, only two weeks into their relationship – but that was just in her nature.

At that moment Peyton and Jake came down, interrupting her thoughts. They were holding hands and Peyton had her head resting slightly against Jake's shoulder.

"Anything else to put in the trunk?" Nathan asked him.

Jake shook his head. "Nah, that's everything. Thanks, man."

"No problem," Nathan told him and proceeded to close the trunk.

Jake checked his watch and sighed.

"I guess this is really it, then," Peyton said.

Jake turned so he could look at her. "You know I'd love to stay longer, but if I leave any later I won't be able to drop into the station tonight like I promised –"

"It's okay," Peyton assured him, putting on a brave face.

"Now, remember Charleston isn't really that far away. You can always call me, or come down for the weekend –"

"I'll probably take you up on that, you know."

"I hope you do," Jake said with a smile. He brought his hand to her cheek. "It's not going to be that long before the semester's over and you can come to Charleston and then we can be together for as long as we want."

"I can't wait."

"Me neither."

Peyton put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, which he reciprocated. Although Nathan and Haley were still in the area, they hung back letting their friends have a moment to themselves.

"I love you," Jake whispered in her ear.

Peyton moved back only slightly so she could look into his eyes. "I love you too."

Finally, they broke apart and Jake went over to Haley and Nathan to say goodbye. Haley came forward to give him a hug. "Take care of yourself, Jake."

"You too. And take care of Peyton – and while you're at it make sure Nathan doesn't go getting himself injured again."

They all laughed, as Haley responded, "I will."

Then, Jake went over to Nathan and the two engaged in a manly handshake, which ended with them giving each other a good pat on the back.

A few goodbyes and well wishes, plus a final hug with Peyton, later, and Jake was in his car, driving back to Charleston. The three of them stayed on the pavement watching him drive away until his car was no longer visible.

Haley put her arm around Peyton who smiled her thanks. "Let's go inside."

Peyton nodded and started inside while Haley moved to talk to Nathan. "Do you want to come in or…"

"Nah, I'll go back to the house. Let you and Peyton hang out a bit."

"Thanks."

"We're still on for tonight, right?" he asked.

There was a carnival in town and Nathan had thought that it would be fun to go there for their first official date. Haley had thought so too, but now she wasn't so sure that she felt like leaving Peyton, not tonight.

"Um, actually, do you think maybe we could take a rain check on that?" When Nathan looked confused, she explained "It's just I think maybe I should spend tonight with Peyton. The carnival will still be there tomorrow, right?"

"Er, yeah, it'll be there tomorrow."

"Is that okay?" Haley checked, because Nathan didn't seem as nonplussed about it as he sounded.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, it's fine."

"It's just that I think Peyton needs some girl time right now," Haley explained. "But I promise tomorrow we'll have our first real date." She looked up at him with a pleading smile on her face, and Nathan couldn't help but smile back.

"It's okay, Haley. You two have fun. I'll just miss you. That's all."

She grinned and put her hands around his neck. "You'll see me tomorrow night," she pointed out.

"And how many days have we spent apart since we got together?"

Haley laughed remembering. "Good point." She stood on her tip-toes to give him a quick kiss on the lips. "Call me later," she told him and was about to move away when he put his hands on her hips to hold her in place.

"Hey, if I'm not going to get to see you for more than 24 hours then you have to give me a better kiss than that."

Haley laughed, but conceded when he began to kiss her and pulled her body closer to his. Minutes later, Haley pulled away, sighing as she did so. "I should go in."

"Okay. I'll call you tonight," Nathan promised. He bent down and brushed his lips against the side of her cheek.

"Bye."

"Bye," Nathan replied before going over to his uncle's car that he had driven over. Haley waved him goodbye and went back inside the apartment block, stopping short when she found Peyton near the main entrance, by the elevators.

"Peyt! I thought you had gone back inside."

"I was waiting for you. I was waiting outside, but then when you two started getting gropey I thought it might be in my benefit to come in."

"We weren't getting gropey!" Haley exclaimed, as they walked to the elevators.

"You kind of were. Any second there I thought his hand was going to land on your ass and that was not something I wanted to see."

Haley blushed. "Nathan would never do that when we were standing out in the middle of the street!"

"So, he does that when you're not in the street? There are limits on what I want to know you get up to, Hales."

Haley groaned. "Why don't we just end this conversation here?"

"Fine by me," Peyton informed her, punching the button on the lift to take them to their floor. "But, hey, I kind of overheard you cancelling your date tonight. You don't have to do that, Hales. I'm not a baby."

"Of course you're not. I just thought that it would be fun to spend some time together. We've both been spending a lot of time with our boyfriends lately and I'm not complaining or anything; I mean, I totally understand you wanting to spend time with Jake before he goes. I just think it'll be nice if we have today together - just the two of us."

"Like old times."

"Exactly."

"So, you're not just doing this because you feel sorry for me and want to keep my mind off Jake?"

"I just want to spend some time with my best friend. You know, a day for just us girls."

Peyton grinned as the elevator door's opened onto their floor. "Sounds like fun; as long as you give me a little break from the girls' only time to talk to Jake when he calls."

"Only if you do the same for me when Nathan calls."

"Oh, God," Peyton said stopping outside their door.

"What?" Haley asked. "Can't you remember where you put the key?"

"No," Peyton said, laughing. "I just realized that we're turning into those girls who have nothing better to do than wait for their boyfriends to call!"