Hey guys! I missed you! Im sorry I haven't been able to update as much as I would love to. My life sucks right so please, please read&review cause hearing from you guys makes me really happy lol im such a girl …

Chapter Three

11:30am, 12 hours and 30 minutes until the game between Nathan and Damien.

Haley was tired.

She had just woken up with a slight head ache and turned over in her bed when she felt someone with her. She opened her eyes; saw who the 'someone' was then smiled. She was happy to know that she wasn't at home alone; Brooke and Lucas had stayed with her. Aww, they look so cute, Haley thought. They were all in Haley's bed; Lucas, with Brooke in the middle and Haley at the other end. She didn't mind at all, she loved it when her friends slept over. But what caught Haley's eyes earlier was Lucas' arm around Brooke. The view brought a smile to her face again.

Then it all came back to her. The smile on her face vanished and was replaced with sad frown as she thought about last night.

Flashback …

Damien ignored her, "When I win, you quit the team. And if you win, I will quit the team."

Nathan shook his head, "Okay. If you win then I'll quit the team but I want something else."

"What?" Damien said starting to get annoyed.

"Haley."

"Deal."

"WHAT?!" Haley yelled. Nathan and Damien both turned to her, "First off, Nathan, we just met and I really enjoy being around you and I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship," She saw the sadness in his eyes but kept going, "But I am NOT some prize to be won in some macho contest you guys have going on," Damien smirked at Nathan and Nathan wanted so badly so punch him in the face but he couldn't do it. He knew Haley would be upset if he did and he didn't want that. Haley meant more."AND YOU!" Haley pointed to Damien, "You are even worse!"

"What? Why?" He was confused. Some punk was hitting on his girl and he was worse? He didn't get it.

"Because you're my boyfriend Damien! You just pawned me off in some bet over what? Who's the better ball player? Seriously? That's how much I mean to you?"

After things started getting a bit more personal, Brooke, Peyton and Jake claimed to all the other party goers that the party was over and soon enough the people started headed out. The last thing they wanted was rumors at school about Haley, Damien and Nathan in this "crazy love triangle" as some people were already saying.

"Of course not baby, you mean so much more to me." Damien said.

"Really?" Haley said not believing him. "Cause I am pretty damn sure if I meant so much to you, you wouldn't have bet me off like you just did." A tear ran down her face, "You didn't even hesitate. You just did it like gave me away like I meant nothing." Haley said in quiet voice.

All of Haley's closet friends knew why this was such a big deal to Haley. Haley had this saying, "People Always Leave." She started saying that after her mom died. Right after, her father was never home. She considered herself lucky, when her dad would stay a weekend out of a month, even though he brought his skank with him. At least she got to see him right? Wrong. After her two older brothers, Brian and Matt started seeing their father with other women so quickly after their mother, they had moved out, leaving Haley. That was two and half years ago and she was still alone. All she had were her friends. They were her only family, and she could NOT bare to lose them.

"Haley, - "Damien started getting closer to her and was about to pull her to him when Jake stopped him.

"I think you should go. It's been a long night; you can talk to her in the morning." Jake said. He and Lucas were always protective of the girls but especially Haley, she was the most vulnerable. Both Jake and Luke had known Haley very well and they knew they Damien wasn't the kind of person she wanted to spend forever with but still she stayed with him. Damien was their friend only because of Haley but they didn't trust him, especially with her.

They knew the truth. Even though Haley had never said anything, they knew. Damien and Haley were close friends before, then after Haley's family had just left her was when her vulnerability began and Damien took advantage of that. He had said that he wanted them to be together and she just agreed because she didn't want another person to leave her. Her mind was so set on not allowing another person to leave that she hadn't realize what she really felt for Damien. Nothing.

"Okay, I guess I'll see yea tomorrow, babe." Damien said and kissed her forehead and waited for her to respond. When she didn't look at him he left out a long sigh and left.

"Haley, I'm really sorry. I don't want you to feel like some- "Nathan started but was interrupted.

"Nathan, it's okay. I forgive you."Haley gave Nathan a hug. "I am not mad at you and I'm sorry I snapped at you. " Nathan was still holding Haley, he loved the feeling of her warm body against his. And the way she smelled was intoxicating. She smelled like vanilla and flowers but the best smell, the sweetest one, was just her. It ended too soon.

"Nathan, let's go man. I'll drive you home." Lucas said.

"I'm coming." Nathan replied. "Good night Hales, see yea tomorrow." He smiled.

Haley smiled back, "Good night Nate." She then turned to Lucas, "Bye Luke."

"Good night Hales," Lucas hugged her then kissed her cheek, "Don't worry. We aren't gunna leave you." Lucas, Brooke, Jake, Lucas and Nathan all saw the tear that slowly slid down Haley's face. "We are your family, okay? Me, Jake, Brooke, Peyton and Nathan. We love you and we are never going to leave." Haley nodded and wiped more tears away. They all knew Haley was going through some of the hardest years of her life and they had to and wanted to be there with her. She would break if she went through this alone.

"Damn," Haley said laughing a bit, "I'm such a cry baby." She wiped more tears away.

"Yea, but you're OUR cry baby," Jake said teasingly.

"Hell yea!" Brooke said happily, "Okay, I declare a group hug!" The rest of the group groaned, "Aw, c'mon guys. Do it for Haley. A hug would make her feel better. " She knew they wouldn't be able to resist now.

"Brooke!" Haley scolded then laughed. "You can't use me to get them to do a group hug."

"Oh yes I can and I will," Brooke stuck out her tongue at Haley and was happy when she heard Haley laugh, "Now c'mon guy, GROUP HUG!"They all laughed then huddled and hugged. It felt good.

However, Nathan did not join the 'group hug' he had just met everybody and he really didn't want to intrude. He turned to leave and started to walk to the front door. He decided just to wait outside by Luke's truck. He was about to turn the doorknob when he heard someone call his name. He turned around to see who it was. Haley.

"Where are you going, Scott? Get your ass back here and join the group hug." Haley said. Nathan smiled and walked back to the group. He was right in between Haley Lucas and put one arm around Haley's waist and his other one around Lucas' shoulders. He was looking at Haley. Man, was she beautiful, he thought. The group laughed at something Jake had said. Nathan loved the feeling. Being with people who loved and cared about you. Then he noticed Haley and the others looking at him, and as if reading his mind she said, "Get use to it. People care about you. You are a part of the family now."

After Lucas had brought Nathan home he headed back to Haley's house. He knew she was going to be fine with Brooke there but he wanted to make sure.

He parked his car in the drive through and went straight up stairs to Haley's room and smiled when he saw Haley already asleep.

"I think we did good." Brooke said entering the room.

"What do you mean, Brooke?" Lucas asked.

"You know operation protect Tutor Girl." Lucas nodded. "Well I think we did a good job." Lucas smiled, then Brooke continued, "Right before she fell asleep she said that she loved us and she said she wouldn't know what to do without us. Then she said that she thanks us and that she hasn't felt more loved since her mom."

"Really?" Lucas asked. Brooke nodded. "I'm glad. I hope she is finally ready to move on and be happy. She deserves it."

"She does." Brooke got under the covers in Haley's bed, "Hey Luke," She called out to Lucas when she noticed him about to leave. "Stay with us tonight. Just like good times." Even though Brooke loved Lucas she knew he didn't feel the same way. So if she couldn't have him the way she wanted then she should go back to the way she was used to. Being his friend.

"I'd love to Pretty Girl, just like good times." Lucas hopped into the bed next to Brooke. But little did they know, they both felt exactly the same way for each other. Which was more than friends.

End of flashback

Jake, Peyton and Nathan walked up to Haley's house and opened the front door.

"Haley doesn't keep her front door locked?" Nathan asked Jake and Peyton.

"Nope, she keeps it open in case one of her brothers comes home. And since you are officially hanging out with us there are a few things I should tell you." Jake said to Nathan.

"Okay what is it?" Nathan asked.

"If you are ever going to Haley's house just walk in, she never hears anyone knock cause of her music." Nathan nodded. "And when Haley is upset is only time she will ever lock her door. We all have a copy of her house keys but since you don't yet you should know that there is two spares. One is in the flower bed in the front and the other is in the back under the welcome mat."

"Okay. Um I really do like learning all these things and I understand that you guys love Haley but why do you guys do all this? I mean why do you take it to the extreme, no offence." Nathan asked.

"None taken but if you must know then fine. Haley is the baby of our group and has been through more pain than anyone I have ever met. So we created this thing, 'Operation Protect Tutor Girl' and we have made our jobs to make sure she doesn't." Peyton said easily but he knew there was something she wasn't telling him.

"Peyton, is there something you guys aren't telling me about?" Peyton and Jake looked at each other then Jake spoke up.

"Look, let's just say. Haley has been through hell and back. There were worst thing that have happened to her besides her dad and brothers leaving her. But it's not our place to tell you about it. It's up to Haley." Jake said, "C'mon, let's just go up stairs." Both Nathan and Peyton nodded and followed Jake up stairs.

When they entered Haley's room, they noticed three bodies in her bed when there were only suppose to be two. Thinking is was some sick punk Brooke has invited over; Jake went over to the bed and yanked the dude out of his best friend's bed.

"Ah! … Jake? What the hell did you do that for?" Lucas asked Jake who had pulled him off the bed and onto the floor.

"Luke? Oh sorr- Wait, what the hell are you doing here?" Jake asked Lucas.

"Yea Luke," Nathan teased, "It looked like you guys were having a threesome."

"Ew!" Haley said starting to sit up in bed, "And can you guys please be quiet Brooke is still sleeping."

"Too late." Brooke said from under their blanket.

"Hey girlies," Peyton said as she took a sit on the bed. "Wanna do something?"

Haley hardly heard Peyton's question. She kept on thinking about how lucky she was too have such great friends. And how she wanted to thank them for always being there for her but before she did that she had to find away to get rid of all this baggage she carried along with her. Then she realized it…

"Haley?"

"Huh?" She snapped out of her thought.

"I asked if you wanted to do something." Peyton said.

"Um sorry I can't." Haley got off her bed and put on a zip up hoodie and her converse.

"Where are you going Hales?" Nathan asked and everybody had their eyes on Haley waiting for her answer.

"I'm going over to Damien's." Haley said.

"Why?" Brooke and Peyton both asked.

"Cause there is something I have to tell Damien." Haley said, "I'll be back in a little bit. Bye."

Before anybody could stop her she was already gone.

Haley was at Damien front door and used her key to open it. She walked inside, closed the door and walk up to Damien's room. She knew he was probably still sleeping so she made sure to be quite. She opened his bedroom door and saw a figure under the thick blanket. Thinking it was Damien; she jumped on 'him' and said, "Time to wake up sleepy head." Just then Damien walked out of his bathroom in only boxers.

"Haley?" He asked with a shocked look on his face.

What the hell is going on!?!?! Haley thought. If Damien is right there then who's this??? Haley felt her eyes start to water.

Then she finally realized it.

I am so sorry this chapter sucked!!!! I know, you guys probably hate it… Im kinda having writer's blog so if you guys have any ideas for me then please comment. Oh and I know this chapter was really messed and screwed up so if you didn't understand something or if I didn't make any sense then feel free to ask. Thanks mmwhaa