Authors Note: Okayyy, so I went to Florida for Spring break and then ever `since I got home I've been really busy. So my apologies for the wicked late update. Forgive me? Anyway, Chapter 7 , woooh!

-EC

Chapter 7: Inside We're Broken

Haley was sitting in her hotel room bed, flicking through channels on the big screen TV located on the wall in front of her. She wasn't paying any attention to anything that was on. Her thoughts were completely consumed with the one boy that had seemed to take them over quite a lot lately.

After they has so cleverly admitted the attraction that Brooke and Lucas both had for each other, Nathan walked her home from the restaurant . They ended up talking about themselves the whole time. Not in a conceded way. But, the kind of stuff you talked about on a first date. She learned so much about Nathan and couldn't help but feel angry with herself for judging him so poorly before she really knew the type of person he was. He was kind, sweet, generously handsome, and he really opened up to her. She forced herself to break down the fortress he puts up around everyone else and that felt good. Even though Haley didn't get as personal with her life, she still told him a lot more than she had told anyone, besides Brooke, in a long time. The funny thing was , she felt so comfortable talking to him. She really enjoyed it.

Haley had fallen asleep after she got back last night from dinner and when she woke up that morning, Brooke had already left, so she hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her yet.

Haley looked over at the door when she noticed it had opened and she smiled at Brooke as she walked in. Haley's smile fell instantly when she noticed the extremely mad look on Brooke's face.

"Oh no, What happened?" Haley asked getting up from the bed. She walked toward Brooke and placed both her hands on her shoulders, looking truly concerned. What came next was a big shock. Brooke's face changed quicker then anything she had ever seen, from a frown to a huge smile.

"We're together !" Brooke screamed so loud Haley was sure other people from different rooms could hear her.

"You did it! You got us together! Thank you so much Hales." Brooke said , hugging her very tightly. "Your welcome. I knew you guys would get together eventually. I just gave you a push in the right direction." Haley said. "And it so worked. He walked me home and then kissed me. And we're going out tomorrow night." Brooke said, with that dreamy glimmer in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you Brooke. I know you've wanted this for a while." Haley said. "Yep, and now that we have that all sorted out, we can work on you and Nathan." Brooke said, very excitedly.

"Uh, what do you mean me and Nathan?" Haley asked, a little scared. " We have to get you together now, and don't tell me that's not what you want, because I can see it in your eyes whenever you're around him." Brooke said. "Brooke, I don't think I'm ready for that. I like Nathan, I do. But, I don't want to do that to him." Haley said looking down and picking an invisible piece of lint of her tank top. "Do what to him?" Brooke asked, confused. "Get him involved with all my drama. My last relationship really affected me emotionally and I don't want that to have an impact on my relationship with Nathan. So I think it's better if we're just friends." Haley said, sadly. " Hales, I hate to be so blunt, but you need to stop living in your last relationship and start over again. You are never going to find love if you keep making up ridiculous excuses not to. Maybe Nathan isn't then one, maybe he is. You are never going to find out if you don't do something about it. It's time to stop hiding." Brooke said, looking Haley right in the eyes.

Haley knew that was exactly what she would have told Brooke if she was in Haley's position. But, she was having trouble wrapping her head around it. She had been doing so good on her own. She found the independence in herself that she didn't know she had before Cole came around. There she went again, making up sorry excuses. Haley wanted to find love and get married and experience all the things that you only think are possible in fairytales. She would never have that if she continued to shut herself off. Nathan was an amazing guy and she knew she could be really happy with him. But she didn't know if he liked her or if she could be the girlfriend he needed her to be.

"I, umm, need to get some air. I'll be back later." Haley said, walking toward the door. "Hales, no wait. Don't go." Brooke said. But it was too late. Haley was long gone.

Haley quickly walked to the elevator and rode down to the first floor. When the doors opened she immediately regretted leaving her room. Nathan was sitting on a couch in the lobby, playing with his phone. Nathan was the last person she wanted to see right now after her conversation with Brooke. She thought quickly. Maybe she could turn around and get back in the elevator before he saw her - too late.

"Hey Haley!" he said, getting up from the couch. Haley smiled and walked toward him. "Hi." she said trying her best not to look uncomfortable. "What are you doing down here?" Haley asked. "Oh, I was waiting for Luke. He was supposed to meet me here, but he just text me saying he couldn't make it." he said. Haley nodded. " Wanna get lunch?" he asked. Haley almost choked on air. How was she going to do that? She didn't understand why she was so uncomfortable around him now. But the possibility of them being a couple made it a little nerve racking. She finally admitted to herself that she had feelings for him. She couldn't stop thinking about what Brooke said - You are never going to find love if you keep making up ridiculous excuses not to.

"Yea, sure. Lunch sounds great." Haley said. Nathan smiled and led her to the restaurant located in the hotel. As they were walking Nathan leaned in close to her ear and whispered. "Love the skirt." Haley looked down and noticed the very short skirt she had on. Was he flirting with her? He was making this very difficult for her. She muttered a simple "thanks" and continued toward the restaurant.

Soon they were seated and had just received their drinks. "So how do you like cheering? I heard Brooke's kind of tough." Nathan said. "She's not that bad." Haley said, She then saw Nathan's questioning look. "Okay so she's pretty bad. But I enjoy cheering. It kind of makes me feel like I'm back in high school." Haley said. " Ugh, I would not like to remember that." Nathan said. "What was high school like for you?" Haley asked, intrigued. "Well I was basically the most popular kid. Everyone loved me. Kind of like now." Nathan said, smirking "I know you were popular! I went to high school with you stupid. I, however, did not flock towards you like the rest of the female population." Haley said, flipping her hair in a superior way. "Why? You knew you were to good for me?" Nathan asked. "Yes, I did know that, and I'm glad you do to." Haley said laughing. " Trust me, I definitely do." Nathan said, grabbing his drink. Haley thought he was so sweet.

"Why don't you want to remember high school?" Haley asked, referring back to what he said earlier. " My family was just a little crazy. I feel free in college. How screwed up is that? I wanted to go to college solely for the purpose of getting away from my parents." Nathan said. "It's not screwed up. That's why most people go to college. Screw the degree and chance for a really great job." Haley said, trying to make him feel better. He let out a little laugh. "You're funny." he said. "I try." Haley said sarcastically. "So, is that why we never hung out in high school? Cause you thought I was an ass?" Nathan asked, obviously trying to deter the conversation away from his family. "Pretty much. And you wouldn't have even given me the time of day. I was a tutor - a.k.a uncool." Haley said. "Well I apologize for that. If I really knew you then, we would have probably been really good friends." Nathan confirmed. "Oh yeah? Why do you think that?" Haley asked. "Well, you're smart and mature and I'm dumb and the farthest thing from mature. Opposites attract." Nathan said smiling and looking right into her eyes. Haley blushed instantly. "I guess so. " Haley said. Just then the waiter came over, ready to take their order.

Haley and Nathan were just about done with their lunch and Nathan spoke again. "So I know what I want you to do with me." Haley nearly choked on her drink. "Excuse me !?" Haley asked, very confused. "Okay, so that came out wrong. But, you told me you'd do something for me and I figured out what I want." Nathan said. Haley got a little nervous. "Okayy, and what would that be?" she asked slowly. "You have to go to dinner with me. At a really nice restaurant. Just the two of us." he said, nonchalantly. Haley pondered this for a minute. How bad could it be? It was just dinner. If he confessed his undying love for her, she would just sprint out of there. No problem. "Okay. Time and place." Haley agreed. "Really? I thought it would take more than that. I was sure I would have to at least take my shirt off." he said. Haley threw a piece of bread at him. "You can if you want. I would have no objections to that." Haley said. She could flirt to. She hoped. Nathan laughed. Good sign or bad?

Once they were completely finished Nathan paid, which she thought was so nice, and they headed out. " I'm surprised you paid for mine. I thought I was at least gonna have to take my shirt off." Haley mocked him. "Please do!" he said, smiling widely. "Haley smacked his arm playfully. "You gonna walk me to my room?" Haley asked. "Well, since I have to pass yours on the way to mine, why not?" Nathan said. "Oh, shut up." Haley said as they got on the elevator.

Once they reached their floor, they got off the elevator and walked toward Haley's room. Once they were standing outside her door, she turned to him. "Thanks for lunch. I had a really good time." Haley said. "Yeah, me too. I can't wait to see how dinner turns out." he said. "I'll call you with a time and place." he said. "Okay, sounds good." Haley said, and walked inside.

She was at a point that she didn't know what she wanted anymore. Well, she wanted Nathan. She just didn't know if she could do it. She would surely die if she started a relationship with Nathan and he ended up crushing her in the end. She knew that was probably unlikely. He was truly an amazing guy. She would just have to wait it out and see what happens.

She wasn't going to lie to herself, she was excited about their dinner. And then she had a 100 percent Brooke moment. What was she going to wear? She hadn't really packed any date clothes. What was she saying? This wasn't a date. Not really. Did she want it to be?

Haley started pacing the length of her hotel room. She was asking herself these questions over and over again. Obviously Nathan liked her, if he asked her to dinner, right? Why was she so nervous about all of this. It was just dinner!

Haley was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Brooke walk in.

"Haley?" Brooke asked, when she noticed she was pacing.

Haley's head snapped up when she heard her name. "Oh, hey."

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier. I know I came on a little strong. If your not ready to date yet, that's fine. I just thought you could be really happy with Nathan and I just want to see you happy Hales." Brooke said, sincerely.

"I know Brooke, and I love you for that. Everything is just really confusing for me right now and I don't know what to do. I just need someone to tell me what to do." Haley said, barely above a whisper.

"Well, I can't tell you what to do, but I can sit with you and listen for as long as you need. And when I'm done listening, I can tell you what I think. But in the end, it's you who needs to figure it all out." Brooke said. Haley walked toward her and Brooke engulfed her in a hug. One of many that the girls shared over the years when one of them was having a tough time.

Brooke led them to the bed and they both sat down, Indian style, facing each other.

"We're going to dinner." Haley said, simply, looking right at Brooke. "What? Hales that's great." Brooke smiled. "Yeah. I thought so too, but what if he expects it to turn into more? What if I expect it to turn into more?" Haley asked. "Well, do you want it to?" Brooke questioned. "No … yes…. Maybe? Ugh, I don't know! When I'm with him, all I can think about is how right it feels and how much I want to kiss him. I can't even think clearly. When I'm not with him, I wonder if I'm ready for a relationship right now." Haley said, sighing. "See ! Confusing!" Haley yelled. "You're gonna have to figure out what you want eventually, but for now you should just focus on having fun on your date. Don't let all this worrying ruin it." Brooke said. "Okay, I'm not gonna let anything ruin it." Haley said.

Authors Note : There's chapter 7 ! Sorry for any grammar mistakes or anything. It's really late right now but I wanted to get this chapter out. I didn't want to end it where I did, but I had to. Next chapter is the "date". Lots of Naley cuteness! Let me know what you thought. Leave me some love ! -EC