You guys all rock btw! I hope you guys like the newest chapter...sorry I wasn't able to update this weekend...I'm not usually home, but I hope this makes up for it a LITTLE bit... :D

As always Feedback is LOVE :) So keep the reviews coming!

- Beth

How does your heart know when to move on? When does it allow the pain to subside and love to creep back in? These are questions that will forever go unanswered. We don't choose who we love. Nor can we determine the amount of time one should take before falling in love.

Haley lie there, soaking in the aroma of the man that made her forget the harshness of the world. She turned to stare at the empty pillow next to her. Outlines of where he had laid still imprinted on the fabric. She couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from curving.

The sound of the shower from the next room, music to her ears. She looked around the bedroom, the faint sunlight shining through in the early morning hour. Her smile continued. The walls were near bare, only a Knick's poster and a plaque that she could only assume was a basketball award from the distance. She outstretched her arms, soaking in the moment. She lightly laughed as she thought he could be making a break for it through the bathroom window, but the sound of the water stopping proved her to be wrong.

A few moments passed before she was able to see him again. Standing in the doorway…wet and half naked. Haley found her mind drifting once more, only this time to something less PG.

His voice was deep and raspy when he finally broke the silence, "Hey…" he said with the infamous "Scott Smirk."

"Hey yourself" Haley replied pulling the sheet higher to her chin.

"No need to be bashful now…" He teased walking over to the bed where she lay. The only articles of clothing keeping them from each other, his towel…her sheet. He sat on the other side of her, leaning his back up against the backboard.

"You are something else Nathan Scott." She mustered out while rolling over and resting her head on his damp chest.

He began to softly stroke her hair, "Well then I'm glad I didn't disappoint…" Again, with the smirk.

She playfully smacked his bare chest, "Ha, ha…"

He chuckled a bit while taking strands of her hair between his fingers, "Thanks to you I'm going to be completely dead for practice."

She moved up his chest so she could look into his eyes, "Well.." she lightly kissed him, "Give my apologies to the coach."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again, "Oh don't worry. I'll make sure I give him the gory details."

Haley shook her head in amusement, "I swear sometimes I just want to-"

"Haley" he interrupted with a smile, "Shut up."

They both laughed as they began kissing once more.

"Oh no you don't…" Nathan said while getting up, "These 6 o'clock practices are no joke, I'm going to need at least a LITTLE energy."

Haley grabbed the nearby pillow and cuddled it, "I guess I'll let you off the hook…THIS time."

He bent down to kiss the top of her head, "I have to get dressed…" he began walking to his closet, "But don't feel you need to rush out…"

"Thanks but I better get to Brooke's…I have to meet with the Anderson's to sign the last of the paperwork for the apartment, then…off to the new job."

"Haley…I know you only said about two words about it to me, but Iike I said last night, before you ravished me for the second ti-"

"I wasn't the one doing the ravishing as you like to call it!"

"What ever you need to tell yourself babe…anyway" he continued, "I just don't understand why you won't let me give you the mone-"

"Nathan, we'll talk more about it later, but I gave you the reason. Money and relationships…don't mix…" Haley answered while getting off the bed, making sure the sheet was tightly wrapped around her.

"I'm just saying…"

She stood on her tippy-toes to give him a quick kiss, "I know and thank you, but it's just not a good idea." She gave him a reassuring smile before retreating to the bathroom.

Nathan threw on a t-shirt and pair of gym shorts. Haley began yelling from the bathroom, "Nathan have you seen my jeans?"

He noticed them lying on the floor, smiling he picked them up. "Here…" he knocked on the door, she slightly opened it a crack then took them from him.

A moment later she yelled again, "Nathan what about my blouse?"

He shook his head, while he searched the bedroom. A few seconds later he knocked and she opened the door the same, retrieving it.

"Nath-"

Before she could finish, he was already knocking holding her bra and shoes, "Anything else?" He joked.

She snatched them out of her hand and slammed the door, "Sometimes I could just-"

"Just what?" He smiled while he leaned up against the bathroom door.

"Oh just go to practice would you!"

His smile grew, "I call you in a few hours."

He grabbed his gym bag and headed out the front door. For the first time in a long time, knowing it was going to be a good day.

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

Haley gently closed the front door, making sure there was as little noise as possible. She took her shoes off and put her purse down with the same caution. She tiptoed down the narrow hallway towards the bathroom.

"Busted!" A voice yelled from behind.

Haley nearly jumped out of her skin, "Damn it! Brooke…" She grabbed her chest, "You scared the hell out of me."

Brooke stood with her arms crossed, "Good! Now where the hell have you be-" Brooke stopped, "You hooked up!"

"What!? No…" Haley denied.

Brooke's gasp only grew, "You so did! You hooked up!"

Haley turned continuing her way to the bathroom, "I don't know what you're talking about Brooke." She walked into the bathroom taking off her earrings and placing them on the sink.

Brooke followed her, "Haley it is 6 in the morning, your hair's a mess and…" she walked in and turned Haley around, "Your blouse is inside out!"

Haley looked down and silently cursed herself for getting dressed in such a hurry.

"So how is Mr. Basketball?" Brooke questioned while sitting on the edge of the bathtub.

"Brooke!"

"What? Hey at least you're getting some, I just want the details."

Haley just shook her head, "Can you please leave so I can take a shower?"

Brooke stood and putting her hands in the air, "Fine, fine…but I'm so going to be looking through your diary later."

"Brooke!"

"Sorry to tell you Hales…this isn't your place. Not as many place to hide things."

Haley growled before shoving Brooke out the door, closing it and locking it. Haley took a deep breath while looking in the mirror. Brooke was right…it was all over her face and appearance. Her blonde curls looked like a brush would be a foreign object. Her makeup was non-existent…not to mention half her clothes were inside out. Haley roughly rubbed her face in an attempt to wake herself up.

"This is gonna be a long day."

A few hours later, Haley emerged in the living room where Brooke was quite comfortable on the couch watching a marathon of "Project Runway."

"Alright, so after my meeting with the Anderson's…I have to run to the storage unit and pick up a few things then I'll be back to change for work…" Haley noticed Brooke's lack in interest, "Brooke did you hear me?"

"I don't get it…I can do this. I should really try out for this show instead of being stuck behind some counter at Macy's…"

"Brooke I'm running late I can't have the "Why hasn't my clothing line taken off?" talk right now…but I promise…me and you tonight..girl talk."

Brookes eyebrow raised, "Like "Naughty Nathan Sex" girl talk? Or, "Where is this relationship going?" girl talk…because I'm telling you that well has run dry."

Haley sighed as she put her bag over her head and around her shoulder, "I'll give you whatever girl talk you want as long as you do something about that kitchen before I get home."

"Hey! I'm giving it that "lived in" look!"

"More like the "What's growing in there" look…" Haley teased, "Anyway I should be back in a few hours…then off to the great "Lou's Sports Arena"" Haley groaned.

"Lou's Sports Arena? Seriously what kind of name for a bar is that?"

"A lame attempt at a Sports bar I guess…" Haley grabbed her key's and opened the front door.

"Later "I-hooked-up-with-a-NBA-star girl…"

Haley stopped in her tracks and just shot Brooke a glare…

"Alright so that one needs some work, I'll make sure to have an updated version by tonight."

Haley just shook her head before closing the door.

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

The bar was just what Haley had expected. A bunch of drunken sports fans yelling and spilling their drinks. Haley hated it. It was the end of the night and Haley sat at an empty table, putting her feet on the chair next to her, "Oh my god…" she moaned as they finally got some relief.

A laugh from behind made her turn.

"It is SO not funny…" She whined.

He sat down next to her, "Better get used to it…"

"Don't remind me…"

"You did alright though for your first day," He rose to his feet once more grabbing two beers from the bar and handing her one, "Here, you deserve it."

She smiled politely, "Thanks." She took a much needed sip, "So is this how it ALWAYS is?"

"No." He stared blankly, "This was a Monday…wait till the weekends and playoffs and baseball's starting up." He then smiled brightly.

Haley closed her eyes and leaned her head back, "I hate my life."

"Aw it can't be that bad…"

"Trust me Julian…I had a job I liked. No I had a job I LOVED…"

"Singing right?"

"Well look at that you were paying attention…" She joked.

"Hey it wasn't my fault…and I missed ONE thing you said…and I'm sorry they were twins Haley…TWINS."

"Whatever…" She laughed.

"Alright…" Julian stood, "We better lock up."

The two finished wiping down the remaining tables, grabbed their things and headed out.

"Well thanks Julian, sorry you got stuck with "the new girl.""

"Not a problem. You live close?"

"Ya just a few blocks, same time tomorrow?"

He smiled, "Absolutely, but I wouldn't feel right letting you walk by yourself…so whether you want the company or not, I'm coming."

"Really that's not nec-"

"Don't even start. It's almost three in the morning…I'm coming…"

Haley yawned, not wanting to argue but also appreciative of the offer. The two began to walk, first talking about meaningless banter but then the conversation turned to Julian mostly. He was 26, he had moved to New York to pursue a film career but had yet to make anything of it. They walked up to Brooke's and newly Haley's apartment, "Well thanks Julian really…"

"But of course, that's what we young strapping men are here for…" He joked.

Haley laughed in the middle of the newest yawn that had escaped her mouth. She opened the door and found Brooke walking out of the kitchen wearing a green face mask and her big pink robe. Before she could say anything Brooke squealed and ran to the bedroom, "HALEY!"

Haley turned to Julian, "That's um…that WAS my roommate Brooke."