Disclaimer: I don't own one tree hill

Authors notes: So I wanted to have a confrontation between Nathan and Haley that was more fight than anything else but I don't think I wrote it the right way. This story seems too be missing something, or should I say someone. Please read and review

Rating: M

Chapter eight:

" I've never seen him this upset. I think this is the first time I've ever not been able to cheer him up. " Haley said, absently stirring her coffee for the last thirty minutes.

" I think it's mixed. " Dave joked, flashing his trademark lazy grin and she couldn't help but smile back. " Just give him time, this is kind of a big deal. "

" I know, I just hate that he's mad at me. " She whined.

Jamie hadn't spoken to her at all since yesterday. He hadn't really spoken to anyone. He just went into his room, threw his mini Duke replica jersey into the garbage and sulked. When they saw Nathan the the courtyard of the apartment complex, Jamie turned and walked the other way. It was clear the boy was mad as hell.

" Jamie seems like a smart kid, he'll come around. " Dave assured her, reaching across the table and grasping hers.

Everything was complicated and she couldn't help but feel like it was her fault. All these years she'd pray that he would come back, tell her he made the biggest mistake of his life and beg her for another chance but now that it was happening, she just wished he would go away again.

" I sure hope you're right. " She mumbled.

The rest of the date was spent talking about outside interest, her music, his football career and now coaching career, how he came to settle on Tree Hill high and how she decided to become a teacher. The more time she spent with Dave, the less time she spent dwelling on Nathan, which was a good thing considering she'd spent the past six years dwelling on him.

Still, she couldn't fully get him out of her head. He'd told Jamie he was going to buy a place in Tree Hill, too be closer to him but did he really mean it or was it just for show. One thing she agreed with him on, is that now more than ever they needed to talk about them. She'd decided it was the only real way she could get closure and that was something she needed for both herself and Jamie.

" Do you ever think about resuming your music career? " Dave questioned but before she could answer, the bell above the door of the coffee shop ding and both their attention we drawn to the couple entering.

She couldn't help but sigh in frustration as Rachel and Nathan walked in. They noticed her right away and it didn't escape her attention at the angry look Nathan cast in Dave's direction. Too his credit, Dave pretended not to notice the look, instead smiling lightly before taking Haley's hand once more.

" Nathan? " He asked and she nodded her head. " We can leave if you want. "

" No, we were here first. I don't want him ruining our night. " She assured him, raising their joined hands, kissing his knuckles lightly before putting their hands back on the table.

The intimate action didn't go unnoticed by Nathan, whose angry expression quickly became one of pure rage. Rachel attempted to hold him back by the arm but Nathan was much stronger and pulled her along with him.

" What the hell is this? " Nathan demanded, yanking his arm away from Rachel's grasp.

" A date. " Dave replied calmly. " One that you are very rudely interrupting. "

" I was talking to my wife! Why don't you stay the fuck out of this? " Nathan spat, causing Haley to spring from her seat and get right into his face.

" We might still be married but I haven't been your wife in six years! " She yelled, oblivious to the fact that Dave had gotten out of his chair and was standing beside her. " How dare you come into my life and try to disrupt it. "

" How dare you turn my son against me! " Nathan shouted, equally unaware of Daves presence.

" Why don't we go somewhere else? " Rachel suggested, tugging on Nathans arm once more.

" I did not turn Jamie against you, you did that yourself. " She told him, placing her small hands firmly against his chest and pushing with all her strength.

" How in the hell did I do that? " He asked, surprised at her actions but keeping his balance.

" You admitted that you chose basketball over me now he won't even look at a basketball. Go figure, you're only back a few days and you already have your son so fucked up. Good job Dan! "

Nathan opened and closed his mouth a couple times but no sound would come out as her words registered in his head. She'd told him he was just like Dan. It was the one thing that he feared, becoming his father and now thats exactly who he was.

" That was low. " Rachel told her, there was no masking the coldness in her voice.

" But true. " Haley smirked, knowing the effects of what she was saying.

Taking a moment, she looked around the coffee shop and noticed that everyones eyes were glued to their confrontation. She didn't have time to over think it because before she was aware of what was going on, Nathan was in her face and she was more than aware of the rage radiating off of him. He looked like he was going to say something but before he could get the words out, Dave was sliding his arm between them, pushing Haley behind him, coming face to face with Nathan.

" Stay the fuck out of this. " Nathan warned, his voice dangerously calm.

" Why don't you calm down. " Dave ordered, looking Nathan squarely in the eye.

Dave and Nathan were face to face, with Dave being maybe an inch taller than Nathan but their builds very similar. The stand off was uneasy, with Rachel desperately trying to get Nathan to walk away.

" And you called Rachel a whore! " Nathan smirked as he stalked off.

It was Haley's turn to stand there in shock. Did he really just say that to her? Was he trying to imply that she was a whore? She wanted to go after him but Dave kept his hand on her shoulder, restraining her.

" That son of a... " She trailed off, looking up at Dave apologetically. " I am so so sorry. "

" I usually wait until the fifth date to have an awkward stand off with my girlfriends husband. It's refreshing to get that out of the way. " He teased, returning to his chair.

" I really am sor... " He began but he cut her off.

" It's okay, really Haley. I can understand why he got so mad. " Dave assured her. " I wouldn't want to let you go either. "

She blushed at his words. Dave was really sweet and she hated dragging him through her mess.

" This divorce can get really messy. " She told him and he nodded. " The thing is, I don't want to cause you any trouble. "

" You won't. " He said, his expression turning serious. " I really like you and you seem too like me too. "

" I do like you and thats why I don't want too see you get hurt by this. "

" I won't, I'm a big boy. Nathan doesn't scare me. " He smiled gently across the table at her. " I really like you and I don't want to stop seeing you. "

" I don't want to stop seeing you either but... "

" Then don't. Don't let Nathan dictate your life. The way I see it, he's taking enough from you already. "

He was right, Nathan had taking a lot from her. Her freedom, her dreams and most importantly her heart but now she was taking them all back.

" What the hell were you thinking? " Rachel snapped, climbing into the drivers seat of Nathans truck.

" What the hell was I thinking? What the hell was she thinking? " He retorted, still shaking with anger.

" She wasn't doing anything wrong, you're the jackass that ran over there acting like a neanderthal! " Rachel shouted, causing him to stare at her in mild shock.

" She was on a fucking date, we're still married. " He pointed out.

" You've been separated for six years. You knew she was dating, why are you making a big deal out of this? "

" Knowing it and seeing it are two different things. She looked happy and I lost it. " He admitted, rubbing his face tiredly. " How am I supposed to convince her we belong together when she's happy with some other guy? "

" Did you really expect her to just fall into your arms the moment you returned? " Rachel asked, praying that he wasn't indeed that stupid.

" No but... "

" Nate you're one of my best friends and I hate to say this but you just might be six years too late, you might just have to let her go. " Rachel told him, gently as she could.

" I don't think I can. " He admitted softly, resting his head against the cool glass of the passenger side mirror.

" He said what? " Brooke snapped on the other end of the line.

" You heard me the first time. " Haley rolled her eyes as Peyton did the same from her spot next to Haley.

Karen had taking Jamie over night, just to give him some space from Haley. It was evident that Jamie wasn't going to cool down while they were around each other and as much as she hated to admit it, he was right in the way he felt. She had deceived him. Her and Peyton were sitting on Haleys bed with the cell phone on speaker chatting with Brooke.

" Somethings never change, Nathan is still a jackass! " Brooke mumbled causing both girls to laugh.

" Oh and he's got some red headed hoe living with him but trying to tell Haley he's single and has never been with anyone since her. " Peyton added as Brooke snorted in disbelief.

" Why are we wasting our time on Nathan when we should be talking about the new hunk in Tutor girls life? " Brooke questioned and Haley grinned.

" As much as I would love to give you the scoop on Dave, I am keeping this one to myself. " Haley teased. " Besides B, I gotta get some sleep now. I'm moving into the the new house tomorrow. "

" Yeah yeah yeah. " Brooke mumbled.

After the three girls had gotten off the phone, Peyton had offered to help Haley finish packing up the rest of her and Jamies things but Haley had declined. She just wanted some piece to go through the events of earlier in the evening.

When she arrived back at the apartment complex, she'd seen Nathan standing at his door. She half expected him to come at her for round two but he stayed glued to his spot, just staring as she made her way into the apartment she shared with Lucas and Peyton.

After she'd told Lucas about what had happened at the coffee shop, she'd had to beg him not to go after Nathan. The whole situation was messed up and she knew if things didn't get resolved quickly, a lot of innocent people could get hurt, including Jamie and she wanted to avoid that at all costs.

Making a decision, she quietly snuck out of her apartment and made her way over to his. The entire way, she inwardly prayed that she wasn't making a huge mistake that they could talk and listen to each other without blowing up. Once she made it too his door, she knocked softly, praying that Rachel didn't answer. Her prayers were answered, Nathan answered.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him. He was wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, his muscles standing out. He looked better than she remembered, the sexual attraction she had always felt for him, still clearly there even after all these years.

" Can I help you? " He asked, his voice hard.

" You were right, we do need to talk. " She admitted, subconsciously licking her lips as her eyes still roamed his exposed skin.

" What changed? " He prodded, realizing what she was doing.

He took the opportunity to look her over too. She was standing in front of him, with her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, wearing a wifebeater with no bra and a pair of sleep pants that hung loosely off her hips. He figured she was supposed to be looking unsexy but she was still sexy as hell.

Her body had changed slightly from what he remembered. She was still thin but had more curves, it definitely agreed with her.

" Tonight. " She answered, tearing her gaze from his body and looking into his eyes.

That was a mistake because once she did, all her old feelings of love came back. The feeling that he was the only one for her. She knew she had to fight it, it had been too long and they missed their chance.

" I was thinking about that too. " He admitted, stepping out of the doorway, allowing her to step inside. " I was a little out of line. "

" A little? " She asked, remembering to keep her tone light to avoid a bigger fight.

" A lot actually. " He conceded, placing a hand on her lower back and leading her into the small kitchen. " It hurt seeing you with him. "

" I would say I'm sorry but I'm not Nathan. I like him and I can't help that. You and me, we're done and we've been done for years. All we have to do now is just sign the papers, so why don't you just do that? "

He could hear the desperation in her voice and wanted to give into her request but knowing what it would cost him hurt so bad.

" I was wrong. " He whispered, his voice thick with emotion. " When I left Tree Hill all those years ago, I thought I was doing what was right for us. That one day I would get the second chance I needed with you. I remembered when you got the offer to go on tour and how I reacted. I was selfish Haley and so stupid but I never stopped loving you. "

" If you would have come back a year later, I would have giving you another chance but you didn't. " She told him, her heart breaking all over again. " I'm trying to do what's right for me and my son now. I can't just stop the life I am building just because you're here now, it doesn't work that way. "

" I know that. " He said simply, avoiding his gaze. " But I can't give up on us. "

" You have to. "

" What about Jamie? " Nathan asked, suddenly finding his hands very interesting,

" I can't make you give up your rights to him and now that he knows who you are, that wouldn't be the best thing to do. I think we should try talking to him. I think if we make a conscious effort to make him see what a jerk you're not, then you might have a fighting chance with him. " She answered, unsure if she believed it or not.

" You called me Dan. " He reminded her, it still hurt thinking about what she had said and she winced at his words.

" I was mad and I didn't mean it. " She explained, feeling badly for what she'd said.

" But you were right. " He said, finally meeting her eyes. " I am my father, I let basketball decide my life, I left the woman I love and a child behind. I may not have known about the baby but I knew about you. Jamie has every right to hate me and so do you but I promise, I am going to spend the rest of my life making it up to him and to you. "

" If you really want to make it up to me, sign the papers and don't make this harder on me than it has too be. " She pleaded and he nodded.

" I'll sign the papers, in two months. " He agreed but only on his conditions.

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