Hey thank you so much for your reviews... I love reading what you guys have to say... so keep it up...

well anyways here is the next chapter...

Back In Your Life

It was five to 11 and there was still no sign of Haley. Nathan thought for sure that she would show up. I mean he did nothing wrong right? He might have just surprised her, but that doesn't give her any reason to be upset. He was so nervous to meet her that he planned out everything he was going to say to her the night before. He even thought about telling her how he really feels, but that would be difficult if she didn't show up. ' I guess I'll wait fifteen more minutes' Nathan said to himself.

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After listening to Nathan's message, Haley has been back and forth on whether not she should go. She figured it was now or never, but she was still scared. It was already five to eleven and she still didn't know if she wanted to go or not.

" Hales will you stop pacing, and if you want my opinion, you should go." Brooke told her friend who was walking back in forth in their living room.

"I should go huh? I mean it can't be that hard. I would just sit down and talk with him. Maybe if I'm lucky I will get some answers, but what if he lies to me. No he wouldn't lie to me, right? Its Nathan this should be easy, I have known him forever. So I should probably go." Haley nervously rambled out.

"Haley will you relax. Brooke's right you should go." Peyton agreed.

"Wait what time is it?" Haley asked

"Uhmm its 11."

"What its 11 already? OMG I'm going to be late, what if he isn't there anymore. I need to hurry. I'll see you guys later." Haley yelled while running out the door.

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Nathan was starting to have doubts that Haley was going to come. He thought for sure that she would show up. He has so much to say to her and he was really hoping that she would come.

Standing up with defeat, Nathan began to walk back to his car. He couldn't believe that she wouldn't want to see him. He was waiting for this moment all night. He could barley sleep he was so excited. He took one final look around and there was no Haley to be seen. He unlocked his car and was about to get in until…

"Nathan wait!" Nathan turned around and noticed Haley was running down the sidewalk toward him.

"sorry I'm late, do you have to go?" Haley said out of breath.

"No, I didn't think you were coming so I was going to leave."

"Well I'm here now."

"I'm glad you came Hales." Nathan said sincerely. Haley's heart began racing at the use of her nickname. She loved the way it rolled off Nathan's tongue so casually. The way he said was so sweet and comforting.

"I almost didn't." Haley said honestly. Nathan's heart dropped at her confession. She didn't even want to see him.

They stood in silence for what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds, just staring at each other. Neither knowing where to begin or what to say. Nathan had everything all planned out word for word, but now that Haley is standing in front of him, he lost all his nerve.

"Do you know why I asked you to meet me here?" Nathan asked breaking the silence.

"No, Why? I've never been here."

"Here come with me." Nathan held out his hand, and Haley hesitantly excepted. Nathan stated walking toward the dock, but Haley didn't even realize she was moving. She was too focused on her hand being in his. She couldn't help but think that this simple of a gesture made her feel so protected. It felt so right having her small hand in Nathan's much larger one. She finally broke out of her trance when Nathan gave her hand a squeeze and she look up and noticed that he was smiling down at her.

" I was walking around the other day trying to figure this place out, and while I was out I found this dock." Nathan gestured to the dock. Haley took a glance at it for the first time and realized how familiar it looked. "It reminded me of the our dock back in Tree Hill. You don't know this, but I have actually been living here for a couple weeks. Anyways, anytime I feel out of place or lost I come to this dock because it's the only place where I feel like I'm back at home. It gives me comfort, it brings back so many memories good and bad. And well I guess I just wanted to share it with you."

"its weird, I've been living here for the past 3 years and I never noticed this place." Haley said. She knew exactly what Nathan was saying, it brought back a lot of memories and it kind of did feel like home. It was just like her and Nathan's dock back in Tree Hill.

"Yeah it's kind of hard to find. I was just out one day and found it. Barley anyone comes here. Its almost like its vacant, but that just the way I like it, quiet and peaceful."

"okay Nathan I know you didn't bring me here to just show me this, so lets cut to the chase because I don't know about you, but I have a lot of question." Haley stated.

"Yeah you're right. Lets go sit down." They walked over to one of the little tables and sat down across from each other. "Okay what would you like to know?" Nathan asked.

"Well for starters why did you stop calling. In the beginning you called like everyday, then a few months later it was a couple days a week, then it would be once a month, but after like 3 years you just stopped calling all together. I even tried to call you, but it said your number wasn't in service. I guess I just don't get why?" Haley asked.

"You have to understand Haley that it was so hard to hear your voice because I was the one that suggested that we break up in the first place, and I guess I kind of regretted that. It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Also one of the last times I called you, you were telling me how you went on a date with this guy. Do you remember that?" Haley nodded. " Well I just figured that you moved on, so I thought it would be easiest for me to move on if I cut you out my life. Also I…" He looked at Haley and she just nodded for him to continue. " Also there was someone else." He whispered. He doesn't know why but he felt guilty that he dated someone else.

" Nathan don't beat yourself up about us breaking up, I mean I agreed to it. Also that date didn't mean anything, most of the guys I went out with meant nothing. And don't worry about seeing someone else, we weren't together anymore, but I just wished you would have called still, I mean we're friends right?" Nathan nodded. " Well then we shouldn't have to hide that stuff from each other. It really hurt me Nathan when you stopped calling." Haley said sadly "And then on top of that you get a new number, you must have really been trying to avoid me."

" I was so stupid Hales. I regret doing that to you. There were a lot of times were I would dial number, but never call. I just thought that I worked so hard to move on like you did, that calling you would make it harder. But I did miss you a lot. That never seemed to go away. I remember the day where I got traded to the Lakers. I was so excited because I knew I would see you. The last two weeks I kept avoiding everyone because I was so nervous and scared to see you." Nathan admitted.

"I never did really move on, I mean yeah I guess I did, but you will always be in my heart Nathan, and I cant do anything to change that."

" I'm really sorry Hales, I didn't know I hurt you that bad." Nathan said sincerely

"Its okay, you cant change the past. So what's done is done."

"Am I forgiven though?" Nathan asked. Haley couldn't help, but smile. He looked like a little boy who had just gotten in trouble.

"Yeah your forgiven." Haley said, and Nathan sighed with relief. Haley really couldn't stay mad at him, and plus she didn't really want to dwell on the past. "So you said you moved on, are you still with someone?" Haley couldn't help but to ask. She was dying to know.

"Uhmm no not really. What about you, are you seeing someone?" Nathan asked. Haley couldn't help but notice how he changed the subject really quickly, and what does 'not really' mean. She was going to ask but she decided to drop it. He said no right, maybe what he wanted to say came out wrong, he probably means no.

"Right now no. I have dated guys over the years but they were all meaningless flings."

" How about Mark? You were with him the other night right?" Nathan asked. It was the question that was on his mind a lot. Mark was one of his teammate and he didn't hear very good things about him.

"No, I just met him that night. We were talking, and he persuaded me to go up and sing." Haley said smiling back at the memory.

" You were great Hales. I use to love hearing you sing. I still think you should have stayed on that tour."

" Yeah the tour was fun, but I just don't think I was ready for all that, I still wanted to go to college and do other things in life. I didn't want to be tied down to something yet, and if all I ever get are open mike nights from now on, I think I'll be fine with that." Haley said. " But enough about me, what about you. What have you been up to these past 7 years?"

"Oh my gosh Hales Duke was amazing. Well the basketball part anyway. It was everything I ever imagined it to be. It wasn't easy though, especially with my attitude, coach K didn't really care for that." Nathan said and felt proud that he got Haley to smile.

"yeah that attitude of yours wasn't good. You were always so stubborn. It was your way or nothing at all." Haley said smiling.

"Yeah, but then after college I got drafted to the Charlotte Bobcats. I was actually living in Tree Hill, I commuted back and forth."

"I only go back there maybe once a year to visit my parents. They bought a house again. The whole R.V. thing wasn't working for them anymore." Haley replied. " So how did you end up here in L.A.?"

"Well I was being traded from the Bobcats and I had two options, I could either go play for New York or come out here to L.A.. I was thinking about going to New York, but you were here Hales and I wanted to stop running from everything. I thought about you all the time and I just wanted to see you again." Nathan admitted.

" You keep saying that you knew I was here. How did you know I was living here?" Haley asked

"Don't be mad, but I still kept in touch with Lucas over the years. He told me about you all the time."

"I get it you were able to talk to Luke, but not me." Haley spat out.

"Haley it wasn't like that, well maybe it was, but I told you already Hales, it was to hard. Also Luke's my brother, I kind of don't have choice."

"I know, but it still upsets me. I use to look forward to you calling."

" Hales I don't think you will ever understand how bad I feel about not calling you. I was so dumb and thought I was doing the right thing."

" Well you weren't. How could you not talk to me? I mean look at this hot body. " Haley joked. She didn't want to keep talking about things that were making her mad. So she figured a little joke will lighten up the mood.

"Well I see you're a cocky one Miss. James, the one thing I did that always drove you crazy, well that and other things." Nathan said with his familiar smirk.

" shut up, and I see you haven't lost that smirk of yours." Haley stated. " and believe me you may have drove me crazy back then, but I've had better." Haley said with a smirk of her own.

"Oh really. You have been with someone who was able to satisfy you better then me." Nathan shot back.

" Well yeah you weren't that good." Haley teased. She loved how Nathan was getting so worked up about this. She knew she was hurting his ego, but it was fun to play games with him.

"So if I touch you like this you won't get turned on?" Nathan placed his hand on the top of her thigh and began to gently inch it toward her inner thighs. Haley was trying to keep her cool, she was just joking. Nathan was and probably still is the best sex she has ever had. "Or if I do this." Nathan leaned over the table and began sucking on her neck under her ear, where he knew was her weak spot. Haley couldn't take it anymore, between him rubbing her inner thighs and him sucking on the spot that drove her crazy, she grabbed his head and brought his lips to hers. The kiss was slow and passionate. It wasn't until Haley felt Nathan's tongue trace her lips that she realized what was going on. She quickly broke away and stood up from the table. Nathan felt so stupid, he didn't know what came over him. He was just caught up in the moment, he didn't mean for that to happen.

" Oh god, I am so sorry Nathan. I shouldn't have done that." Haley said frantically.

" No Haley that was my fault, I'm the one who should be sorry I started it." Nathan said. He stood up and walked over to Haley. "But I'm kind of glad that it happened. It felt right Haley and you know it."

" it did Nathan, but I don't want to rush into things with you. I was going to suggest that we just stay friends for awhile. Maybe see how things go." Haley said nervously. She didn't know what he would think about her suggestion.

" We will never be just friends Haley. There will always be something more between us, but if that's what you want then I'll do it."

"Alright its settled, just friends." Haley held out her hand for Nathan to shake.

"Just friends." Instead of shaking her hand Nathan stepped forward and pulled Haley into a hug. Haley felt this jolt of electricity go through her body from being in his arms. After the hug lingered longer then it should they broke apart.

" So since things are okay between us everyone is going out tonight, you should come." Haley said.

" yeah Luke told me. I will definitely see you there."

"Alright well I have to go. There still some stuff I have to do today before I go out tonight. Bye Nate."

"Bye Hales, I'll see you tonight."

With that Haley gave Nathan one final hug and left. Nathan stood there for awhile watching her walk away. He didn't really like this friends idea, but he would do whatever it takes to get Haley back. That was his goal, make her realize that they belong together. He was determined to get her back, but if she wanted him to be her friend for now then that's what he was going to be.

Well I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Please review..maybe if i get a lot of reviews i'll post the next chapter up tonight!