A/N: OK, I have a new rule for my reviewers. Never EVER apologize for leaving a long review. They absolutely make my day! Seriously, I had the most ever long reviews for last chapter and they are so helpful in getting my head around what needs to happen and what you guys like and so on…basically I adore them. So, your rants are not just ok, they are inspired.


Oh, and I love you guys to pieces for all of last chapter's reviews! I'm glad you liked Nathan/Chad smackdown.


"You, Skills Taylor, are going to pay for that!"

Haley leapt onto Skills' back and tried to take the ball out of his hand from around his neck. He bent over, pretending to knock her off, while really holding tight so she wouldn't fall over.

"And Haley James makes a vicious foul. It looks like it's going to be a turnover for Skills Taylor."

"That was all ball!" Junk protested from the sidelines.

Haley giggled, dropping from Skills' back and dashed off the court before he could retaliate.

"Now, we can get back to playing after that open and malicious foul," Lucas said. Haley responded by sticking her tongue out.

"Act of racism," Fergie threw in, running back out on the court.

"I don't think I'm ever going to recover from that, Haley!" Skills said, still bent over and holding his back dramatically, causing everyone to laugh. "Man, why ya'll laughing?"

"Mouth said it was clean, didn't you, Mouth?" Haley asked, sitting down next to Mouth on the picnic table overlooking the Rivercourt.

"I just call them like I see them," Mouth confirmed.

"I've recovered!" Skills proclaimed, straightening up. "It's a miracle. Damn, Haley, you been taking steroids?" He rubbed his back again.

"Ha ha," she said, sticking her tongue out at him too.

"All right, ball out," Lucas said, passing the ball toward Junk.

"Naw, man," Skills said, shaking his head. "I gotta go. I gotta get to work. You know, since some of us can't afford no school at UNC." Haley's face fell at these words. She had actually been enjoying herself for the first time in days. In less than a second, everything about Skills' future had changed in her eyes. She realized Skills was stuck in the factory he had always detested.

"Man, all right," Lucas said, bumping fists with Skills. "I'll see you tonight."

"Definitely," Skills said, retreating and waving goodbye to the rest of the boys.

"Me and Junk were about to go buy some fireworks," Fergie said, taking the ball out of Junk's hands and dribbling it automatically. "Ya'll want to come?"

"Actually, Haley and I were going to go get a bite to eat at the café," Lucas said, gesturing in the general direction of the café.

"All right," Fergie said. "Mouth?"

Mouth shrugged. "Not like I have anything better to do."

"All right, we'll see you guys later," Fergie said as everyone said their goodbyes. Once the trio had walked off, Lucas turned back to Haley.

"You hungry?" he asked.

She smiled. "Mostly just wanting to see Karen."

He returned the grin full force. "Yeah."

Haley sat up from the bench and she and Lucas began to walk in the direction of Karen's Café. They walked in silence for a few moments before Lucas turned to look at Haley.

"I missed you, Hales."

She gave him another small smile, looping her arm through his. "I missed you too."

"I don't just mean these last few days," he went on, shaking his head. "I mean, for the first time in weeks, you really seem like yourself again."

Haley looked around, taking in the sight of her hometown, of the trees and the buildings, of the happy people preparing for their New Year's celebrations. "I think it's just being home. Finally something in my life feels normal. I've needed a little bit of normalcy; everything's so chaotic."

Lucas immediately stopped and turned to look at her. "Why?"

She shrugged. "A lot of things have been changing lately." More like everything and everyone, she thought.

He shook his head and continued walking; she followed his lead. "I've noticed. I mean, God, Haley, Brooke Davis dropped you off at my house last night. I'm thinking where the hell did that come from?"

Haley's brain worked overtime, searching for the right words to tell him. "I've just been getting to know Peyton. You know, I had that class with her and things just sort of evolved. And part of getting to know Peyton is getting to know Brooke. Besides, it was really nice of her and Peyton to bring me back to Tree Hill." Haley just knew a lightning bolt was going to strike her down for lying to her best friend.

"So, is part of getting to know Peyton getting to know Nathan too?" Lucas asked, looking down at her accusingly.

"Luke, why would you even ask that?"

"Haley, I don't want him messing with you!" he responded.

They looked up, realizing their talk had followed them all the way to the café. Lucas held the door open for Haley and she walked through. They both went to sit at the counter, watching Karen as she took an order out to an older couple sitting by a window. She approached them, smiling.

"You look busy," Haley said, watching her make change at the cash register. "Need me to go grab an apron?"

Karen just laughed. "Oh no. You and Lucas can just serve yourself. I'll be back in a minute."

She began to walk off, but then hurried back, giving Haley a quick hug. "It's good to see you, kiddo."

Haley blushed as Karen ran off again. Lucas walked behind the counter, making drinks for himself and Haley. He came back around and handed her hers, sipping out of his own glass.

"Mmm, chocolate milk. You remembered," Haley said, taking a sip.

"You're my best friend, Hales. I wouldn't forget."

Haley looked down into the depths of her cup, feeling instantly guilty about what Lucas would see as her base treachery. She had dared to converse with the enemy.

"You know, Nathan's your brother," Haley said, finally just going for it.

Lucas looked so shocked, Haley wouldn't have been surprised if he had spit his drink out. "You did not just say that."

"Say what?" Haley asked, losing patience. "It's the truth. He is your brother, whether you like it or not."

"This coming from you? The one who told me we'd be better off if the basketball court just opened up and swallowed him whole?"

Haley opened her mouth to respond, but Karen was back upon them. She turned away from the cold face Lucas was showing her and smiled at his mother.

"So, should I ask why you skipped our family Christmas?" Karen asked, putting an arm on Haley's shoulder.

Haley shook her head, not able to come up with a response that would appease Karen.

"Well, I'm just glad you're here now. I would've hated for you to miss out on the Rivercourt's New Year's festivities."

Haley laughed. "Me too."

"So, what can I get you two?"

"Macaroni and cheese," Haley responded without a thought.

"Just vegetable soup, Mom," Lucas said.

Karen nodded and went back around the counter.

Lucas looked tentatively back over at Haley. "What's going on with Nathan, Haley?"

"Nothing's going on," Haley hissed, worried Karen might be listening in on them.

"Why are you hiding this from me, Hales? We've always told each other everything."

Haley shrugged. "I don't know what you want me to tell you. I just don't."

"I want you to say that you're my best friend and you can tell me anything. Just like I've always told you anything. I've told you about how miserable Nathan made my life, how I hate anything that connects me to Dan. I just want you to support me the way I've always supported you. I need you here, Haley. It just kills me to think of that jackass being anywhere near you. It's as simple as that."

"Maybe you could be wrong about him," Haley suggested timidly.

"If I am, I don't want you to be the one who has to find out. Can you please just stay away from him? I want to know that my girl is all right. And I want you to tell me if he continues to bother you."

Haley sighed, resigned to the fact that she was fighting a losing battle. "All right, Luke. If that's what you want."

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

"Lucas Scott crosses up Junk Moretti, keeps his eyes on the goal, and SCORES! That makes it Lucas-Fergie seven to Junk-Skills four."

"Man, we're preparing for a comeback," Skills told Mouth as he dribbled past Mouth and Haley and up the court. "We're gonna call it the great New Year's Eve comeback of '99."

"Skills, it's not 99," Haley told him from the sidelines.

"Yeah, but that sounds better," he said, being momentarily distracted and giving Fergie the chance to steal the ball. "Damn, Haley, see what you did, confusing me with numbers."

Haley laughed as Mouth continued his commentary of the game. "And Fergie's ball is stolen back by Junk Moretti, who takes it back to his own basket to be…blocked by Lucas Scott!"

Lucas bent over, trying to catch his breath after the block and Haley stood up immediately from her place at the picnic table. "Lucas, are you ok?"

He looked up, breathing heavily. "Yeah, just tired."

"I think you need to take it easy. You know, with your heart," Haley said, studying Lucas with a concerned expression on her face.

"What?" he asked, matching her look with a confused one of his own.

"You know-" Before she could respond, her phone began to vibrate. She looked down, distracted at the name on the screen.

"Who is it?" Lucas asked, a frown quickly replacing his look of confusion.

"My parents," Haley lied quickly. "I'm going to walk over here so I can hear them. Be careful, Luke," she chided as she walked away, opening her phone. "Hello," she answered when she was far enough away from the boys that she was sure they couldn't hear her. She heard the sounds of them shouting, meaning their game had started back.

"Where are you?" asked Nathan's slightly slurred voice.

"What does it matter to you?"

"Don't screw with me, Haley."

Haley crossed her arms defensively over her chest, holding her phone up. "You call my phone, demand to know where I am, and then say I'm screwing with you?"

"Haley, you have no idea what I am. Tell me where you are."

"What did you just say? Are you drunk? I mean, obviously you're drunk, but what are you doing? And what are you talking about?"

He laughed. "Driving. What, did you think I was going to walk to find you?"

"Why are you Scott boys trying to kill yourselves?" Haley asked, feeling her blood absolutely boiling. Did they not know what they were doing to her nerves?

"Are you with Lucas?" he asked, a definite edge in his voice.

"Oh my God! I cannot take this between you two!"

"Whatever, Haley. Anyway, the longer you take to tell me where you are, the more I have to drive around drunk. And believe me, Haley, I will drive all over this damn town."

She sighed. "I'm at the Rivercourt."

"With Lucas?"

"Yes, with my best friend, and coincidentally your brother, Lucas."

"Spare me, Haley. I have a freaking head hurt."

"Ache. You have a headache. And if you had any sense, you would know drinking turns you into a blabbering idiot. Not that you're not all ready an idiot."

"Shit, was that a deer?"

"Nathan!"

"What? Oh. Look, I'm coming to the Rivercourt."

"Don't!" she said quickly, glancing to where the boys were all playing basketball.

"Chill the hell out, Haley. I'll park back through those woods out next to the river. Just say you have to go pee or something and come meet me."

"No, Nathan!"

"Fine, I'll just come get you then. But I'll go ahead and let you know, me and Lucas will get into a fight."

Haley glanced back over, watching Lucas laugh with his friends. "I'll be there in five minutes." She snapped the phone shut and walked back over to where the boys were playing.

"Ok, time out," Lucas said, seeing her approach the court.

"Hey, let's get the fireworks out of Mouth's car," Fergie said, motioning towards the vehicle. As the other four went to the car, Lucas approached Haley.

"How are they?" he asked.

"What? Oh." Haley shook her head, glancing at the cover of her phone. "They're good. Just wanted to wish me a happy New Year's. You know," she rolled her eyes. "They cared enough to call but not enough to visit."

"Sorry, Hales," Lucas said, pulling her in for a hug.

At that moment, Haley knew she had to tell him. She couldn't lie to her best friend any longer. It just wasn't fair-

"Luke, you ready to shoot these damn things?" Skills said, jogging back from Mouth's car.

Well, maybe she could wait a little longer.

"Yeah. Haley, you ready for the Rivercourt Fireworks Extravaganza?" Lucas asked.

"We spent four hundred dollars on fireworks this year," Mouth said, making his way over with his hands loaded with boxes.

"Isn't that like more than you pay for rent in a month?" Haley asked, laughing.

Mouth shrugged, going back to his car.

"Well, look, guys," Haley said, rubbing her arm. "I need to go to the restroom, so I'm just going to-"

"You can take my car," Luke offered, taking his keys from the picnic table.

"It's fine. There's woods right there and you know I've always liked to rough it. Besides, what do you think is going to be open at 11:45 at night? I can just go in the woods," Haley replied, feeling extremely stupid. Figures it would be one of Nathan's ideas, she thought bitterly.

"Ok, if that's what you want." Lucas nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "Just walk farther out, ok?"

"Shut up!" Haley said, punching his arm and turning to walk away.

"Don't miss the fireworks!" Skills shouted at Haley's retreating form.

She waved to signal she had heard him then walked into the woods. Once she had walked far enough to be enveloped by darkness, she realized how creepy her current setting was. This was exactly how horror movies began.

Fortunately she only had to walk through the woods for about a minute to arrive at a clearing on the other side. There, she saw Nathan's SUV already parked. She walked up to the passenger door, pulled it open, and got in. "That was more than five minutes," he stated coolly.

"Please spare me," Haley said, pulling her jacket tighter around herself and adjusting his thermostat. She looked up to see him. "What do you want, Nathan?"

He rubbed his eyes, looking wearily at Haley. "You didn't come."

"I'm right here!"

"Not here."

"Come where?" she asked, giving him an odd look.

"My party. I thought you'd come with Peyton or Brooke but you weren't there."

"You had a party?"

He nodded. "Tonight. You were supposed to be there. You're everywhere else I go."

"Why you would think I would go anywhere near your house is completely out of my realm of comprehension," Haley bit back.

Nathan rubbed his temple. "Please stop using big words I don't understand."

"So you left your party to come find me and ask why I wasn't there?" she asked incredulously.

He shook his head. "No, you were just supposed to be there. I shouldn't have to ask."

"Why was I 'supposed' to be at your party?" Haley asked, making air quotes.

"It's New Year's."

"And?"

"And everyone's talking about who they're going to kiss at midnight and so I tried to think of who I could kiss at midnight. But I couldn't think of anybody but you."

Haley's mouth snapped shut as Nathan's comment completely floored her.

"I've been so confused since I kissed you and you told me all that stuff about how it was supposed to be."

"I told you I was wrong," Haley said, finding her voice. "I don't think it was supposed to be anything."

"But what if it was?"

"Nathan, you can't keep doing this. You're manipulating me to play your stupid games with you. You always find a way to keep me coming back because youknow how much I care about you, just like tonight. I cannot do it anymore. You can't keep using what I know against me."

"I don't even know what that means," he said, slamming his hand against the headboard of his car. "You're not listening to me. Don't you realize what I'm saying? It's New Year's and the only girl I want to kiss is you!"

"Nathan, are you listening to yourself? Kissing certainly isn't going to solve any of either of our problems! We agreed that what happened Christmas Eve didn't mean any-"

"Haley," he interrupted her midsentence, "you know I didn't kiss you out of obligation! I kissed you because I want you. You've known how much I want you longer than I have!"

An alarm went off in Haley's head. She knew she had to get out of the car before she ended up doing something she regretted. "All the more reason for me to leave," she replied, going for the handle of the door.

"Haley, wait!" Nathan said, grabbing on to her forearm.

"Let go of me," Haley hissed, not turning to look at him.

"Isn't a New Year's kiss supposed to be about starting all over? Beginning the year with the person you want to spend it with?"

Haley sighed, looking back at him. "Nathan, you don't want to be with me. You wouldn't even be here right now if you hadn't drunk too much already tonight."

"So?"

She looked pointedly into his eyes. "Who did you kiss last night?"

He looked completely taken aback by this question. "What?"

"After the fight last night, all you wanted was sex and alcohol. And Nathan Scott always gets what he wants, right?"

He shook his head. "Haley, last night doesn't matter. That doesn't matter at all. I'm here now."

She bit her lip, feeling tears swimming in her eyes. "It matters to me." Her hand went to her chest. "Nathan, I already told you I can't keep playing these games with you. My family matters too much to me. And somewhere maybe you are my family. But here, in this life, Lucas is the only family I have. I can't betray him like this."

She opened the door and stepped out, leaving a resigned Nathan behind.

"How can you love Nathan Scott, but not love me? Am I really that bad of a guy?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper. "Why don't you love me?"

A tear ran down her cheek. "I just can't." she heard her voice crack. "I don't even think you know how to love." She shut the door and turned to walk back toward the Rivercourt. Toward the safest sanctuary she had ever held. Toward the only family she still had…


A/N: So, I've definitely had trouble with the NH conversation and it came out a lot differently than I anticipated but sometimes the characters take on a mind of their own where you're writing. And that definitely happened this chapter. I hope you like it anyway. It feels a little disconnected to me, but I think that might just be the weird mood I'm in. lol

Oh, and one more think I've been meaning to address. Yes, I do know where this story is going. I would guess the chapter total will be somewhere between like 23-28. I'm not somebody who likes to drag stories out too long, so I think that is about the number of chapters you should expect. Maybe even less. I haven't sat down and mapped everything out chapter-by-chapter.