I am so happy at the response this story has gotten. Again I am having a blast writing it :)

If you like it review so I know to keep updating :)

- Beth

"What do you think?" Haley stood back and held the paint roller close to her chest as she waited for Brooke to respond.

Brooke tilted her head, "I like it."

The girls stood and starred at the spot on the wall that was freshly painted a dark tan, "Me too." Haley added before tossing Brooke her own roller.

"Oh no girlie, I don't paint."

"You do now, besides what else were you going to do today?"

"I do have a life-"

Haley eyed her best friend.

"Alright well so I'm going through a dry spell at the moment, but after the disaster now known as Felix I think I deserve a little me time."

Haley wrapped her arm around Brooke, "True story."

The girls dipped their rollers into the paint and began on opposite sides of the wall, "So when's the rest of the stuff coming?"

"Ah I think the bed's coming later today and the couch and stuff won't be here till tomorrow, WHICH reminds me that I need you to be here."

"Why?"

"Brooke its Friday, I have to work…" Haley said nonchalantly.

Brooke squealed, "You're going back!?" She jumped up and hugged her friend, "It's about time!"

Haley smiled, "Yah…and besides with all this stuff my savings have definitely taken a beating."

"I'm just glad to see it Haley."

"Me too. Gotta start somewhere I suppose." Haley responded while adding more paint to the wall.

"Speaking of what's going on with-"

"Brooke…" Haley warned her not to pry.

"What? I can't ask my best friend what's going on with Mr. Basketball himself?"

"No because I told you there's nothing going on. We're…friends." Haley said almost trying to convince herself.

"Whatever you say Denial-Girl."

Haley couldn't help but laugh, "In your lifetime how many nicknames do you think you're going to give me?"

Brooke shrugged, "I think you still got a few coming to you." Brooke sighed, "So where's he been anyway?"

"Brooke!"

"What!? All I'm saying that ever since you stayed at his house that night it seemed like you both were glued to the phone…and now nothing."

"First of all we were not "glued to the phone", like I've said we're helping each other through this. Second like you said he's Mr. Basketball….hence he's off playing basketball, Cleveland I think."

"Alright you wanna do it this way, First of all then…you guys could get away with the "seeing each other through it line" for like a week…it's been two months Haley. Second…" She stopped, "Does he have any hot basketball friends?"

Haley giggled, "Your incredible Brooke Davis."

"That's not the first time I've heard that and it won't be the last."

"Way too much information."

"In any case Haley…it's ok."

"What are you talking about?"

Brooke stopped painting and walked towards her friend again, "I know I was the one telling you it wasn't a good idea and I still want you to be careful because these circumstances are beyond weird…but…"

"Brooke you don't have to-"

"Yes I do. I know you Haley. You're going to analyze this until your hair turns gray…just go with it. Follow your heart…if he makes you happy…screw the rest of it. Just go with it."

"Thank you Dr. Phil…but I got it under control."

"Ya that's why you've been keeping the "Sports" section in the newspaper." Brooke added while walking away.

Haley gasped, "I have not!"

"Have to!" Brooke stomped over to the pile of newspapers , "Hmmm I see a lot of papers but…hmmm NO SPORTS SECTION!"

"They um…didn't come with one?" Haley tried to defend.

"No because I guarantee if we take a look in the drawer by the fridge we'll find every article about Nathan dunking his basketballs or whatever, and the reason you put them there is so we don't accidentally don't use them and get paint all over 'em!"

"You are WAY off lady!"

"Oh ya?" Brooke questioned while walking towards the kitchen.

"Alright" Haley yelled, "Just…ya…so I've been seeing how he's doing. Like I said we're FRIENDS."

"Honey, if you were just friends you wouldn't be hiding them."

Haley took a deep breath, sometimes she could just beat the life out of Brooke Davis for being right.

***********************

Nathan walked into his new apartment in the city and dropped his gym bag to the floor. The site of it nearly knocked him over, he smiled and shook his head "Peyton." He walked into the kitchen and as he figured his brother and Peyton were sitting around the table, "What did you guys do?"

"Hey Nate" Nathan greeted with a mouth full of ice cream.

Lucas smiled and got up to give his brother a hug, "Welcome back and you can blame the decorating on my wife."

"What? I didn't want you coming home to an apartment filled with boxes." Peyton said as she scrapped the container for the remaining contents.

Nathan chuckled, "Well thank you, but you shouldn't have been moving anything Peyton."

"Oh don't worry she didn't" Lucas chimed in, "She did a lot of this…" He motioned pointing in all different directions.

"What can I say if this whole art gallery thing doesn't work out I may have a career in air traffic control."

"I gotta get this one home, but she insisted we be here when you came home. We ordered Chinese a little while ago…it's in the fridge if you want some."

"Thanks again guys."

Nathan walked them out and they said their goodbyes, he closed the door and once again looked around the apartment and smiled. It finally felt like a fresh start, he didn't have to turn the corner and be reminded of Rachel and it was an incredible feeling.

***********************

The next night, Brooke sat in the middle of the floor in Haley's apartment, filing her nails and waiting for the delivery men to arrive. After what seemed like forever there was finally a knock on the door, "Come in, it's open."

The door opened and Brooke looked up, "Well either the basketball thing didn't work out or you're not the delivery guy."

Nathan's head tilted, "What?"

Brooke stood, "Never mind. What are you doing here?"

"I was here to" Nathan looked around, "to see Haley."

"Oh well she's not here."

"I can see that."

"I'm her friend Brooke."

"Hi. I'm Nathan."

"I know."

There was a moment of silence before Nathan spoke, "Alright then, I'll call her later I guess." He turned, "Good to meet you Brooke."

"You know" Brooke stopped him, "She's playing at the club down the street if you wanted to stop by and check her out" she winked.

Nathan smiled, "Thanks Brooke."

She shrugged, "That's what I'm here for I suppose."

********************

Nathan walked into the crowded club called "Frankies" he grabbed the first waitress that passed him, "Where can I find Haley James?"

"Mrs. Keller's backstage…" and she quickly walked away to the bar.

Nathan made his way to the back door where a bouncer stood, "Sorry man you can-" His eyes lit up, "Wait a sec, you're Nathan Scott right?"

Nathan grinned, being him did have it's perks.

"Aw man that was some game the other night…That dunk was sick."

"Thanks man, ah I need to see Haley."

The bouncer had no problem leading him backstage, "She's in the second door."

"Thanks man."

Nathan walked towards the door and couldn't understand why in that moment he had butterflies. He sucked it up and built up enough courage to open the door, "Hale-" He found her sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face. He quickly ran to her, "Haley what's wrong?"

She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, "Nathan…What are you doing here?"

"I went to your apartment, Brooke said you were here…what's the matter?"

Haley stood and looked in the mirror, "Oh god, I look horrible."

Nathan came up behind her, "You look gorgeous, now what's the matter?"

Haley turned to look up at him, "I don't know if I can do this."

"What do you mean?"

"Nathan…I got this job because of Chris…I got the little following that I have because of him-"

Nathan lifted her chin so she was starring directly at him, "Now I don't know much about it, but I can guarantee you got all that because of YOU, not Chris."

"I can't do it Nathan."

"Remember you told me the story about your first show? How you had that "wanna throw up, hide under a table" kind of nerves."

Haley shook her head in agreement, "Yea…"

"Forget all that." Nathan said while brushed her hair out of her face, "Forget about everything you've known up until this moment."

"What are you talking about?"

"When you go out there…don't think about anything but the song." Nathan sighed, "My first game in the NBA I tanked…I completely suck and that NEVER happens. It was the nerves that got to me…the next game I forgot about all the fans and the coaches and the other teammates. I was just back at the playground playing one on one with my brother…and let's just say I kicked some ass" he smirked.

Haley took a deep breath.

"So when you get out there…it's just you. Imagine you're 12 and singing in front of your mirror." He joked.

Haley cracked a smile through her tears, "You're such a dork."

Nathan nudged her, "C'mon you'll do great."

A knock was heard on the door as the bouncer walked in, "Mrs. Keller…they're waiting for you."

"Thanks Ray…OH and Ray…make sure it's Ms. James tonight."

Nathan smiled down at her, "You can do this Haley James."

The crowd cheered and hollered as Haley finished her set. Nathan sat in amazement, most think they can sing and those who actually do it are mediocre at best…but she was incredible. He made his way towards the back as she ran out, "Hales that was amazing."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Really?"

"No you sucked ass." Her eyes widened as she smacked him, "I'm just kiddin' geez slugger."

"Thank you." She looked adoringly up at him, "I honestly don't know if I could have gone out there without you."

He smiled down at her, "You wanna get out of here for awhile?"

"Yea, just let me change and I'll be right out."

A few moments later Haley emerged, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, dressed in a pair of jeans and a Knicks hoodie.

His eyes focused on the hoodie, "A fan are we?" He teased.

Haley had forgotten about her choice of wardrobe and immediately turned about ten shades of red, "I just…ya I got nothing." She smiled.

He draped his arm around her as they walked outside, "I like it."

"You are so full of yourself."

The rest of the night they spent walking around New York City, "Ok favorite movie?" He asked.

"Easy, Goodfellas."

"You're kidding me?" He laughed.

"What? C'mon Ray Liotta's hot."

"Alright the girl likes Mob movies. Favorite time of year?"

"Fall…it's just beautiful. Especially here in the city." Haley tucked her hands into the front pocket of the hoodie, "So tell me something about you, something real."

"Something real huh?" Nathan found a park bench and they both sat, "You know how my sister in law, Peyton, is pregnant?"

"Ya, wow she's gotta be due here soon doesn't she?"

"Yea…" Nathan got a very distant stare, "That's kind of what has me thinking about it. About a month into my marriage to Rachel…she found out she was pregnant."

"Oh wow Nathan…"

"Yea…I was about excited as an expectant father could be." He took a deep breath, "She wasn't as excited. I remember her telling me how that if she had the baby that her entire career would be ruined."

Haley looked at him confused.

"She was a model."

"Oh…"

"But…so anyway we had argument after argument…I wanted to keep it…she didn't…"

"Oh my god she had an abortion?" Haley gasped.

"No, no…She talked about it, but after we went to her first doctor's appointment…she changed her mind about it all…I don't know at least she acted like she did." Haley reached out and grabbed his hand, "Well about a month later she had a miscarriage."

"I'm so sorry Nathan."

He let out a sad chuckle, "She blamed me for it all. Said that it was my fault that she even loved it…that if we would have just done what she wanted…"

"Nath-"

"I guess that was the beginning of the end for us. Looking back at it…if I had to pinpoint a moment…it would be that one. I tried though…I did the best I could to be there for her…but she never let me in."

"I am so sorry."

He tightened the grip on her hand, "Thanks. Though I guess the demise of our relationship wasn't completely on her…believe it or not I can be quite an ass when I want to be."

"I once through a clock radio at Chris that left a scar" Haley added.

They both stopped and laughed, he wrapped his arm around her as they sat in the park, "I haven't talked about that for a very long time."

"I'm glad you told me."

Nathan's voice became serious once more, "Haley…"

"Yah…"

"I loved my wife."

Haley was taken aback by the comment, "I-I know Nathan."

"No you don't. I did…I loved her. I wouldn't have married her if I didn't love her…"

"Ok." Haley's voice was very quiet.

He looked down at her small frame and forced her to look at him, "But never did I feel like I do when I'm with you."

Haley didn't know what to say and luckily he didn't leave her time to reply, his lips were immediately on hers. There they sat on the bench, lost in each other and hopeful for a future that would heal the past.