Haley woke up the morning to see 10 miscalls on her phone from an unknown number. She looked at her clock and realised that it was 12 o'clock in the afternoon; she found this weird as Brooke would've woken her up by now. She dragged herself out of bed and her blanket was trailing her as she tried to open her eyes.

"Brooke." She shouted, dragging her self into the living room, "Broooooooke!" She shouted again getting agitated.

Brooke ran out of her room and saw Haley standing there half asleep in her pyjamas with her blanket hanging from her hand trailing behind her.

Brooke's eyes started to fill up with tears, "Oh, you poor thing, come here." She ran to Haley and pulled her into a hug, "I'm so sorry."

Haley stood there confused as Brooke held onto her, she slowly pushed her away. "What are you talking about? Why didn't you wake me?"

Brooke looked at her with a confused face which instantly changed to shock, "Oh my god, you don't know?"

"Huh?"

"You don't know do you?" Brooke began pacing the room panicking with her hand on her forehead rambling to herself, repeating the words 'she doesn't know' to herself.

Haley was very confused by Brooke and shook her head to wake herself up, "Brooke, what are you talking about?"

Brooke froze, almost forgetting that Haley was still in the room, she had no idea how to tell her. Brooke opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Haley gestured with her eyes for Brooke to hurry up. Brooke fell silent and looked at her feet.

Haley laughed, "O.k. Brooke, now you're really freaking me out? Coz you've never been quiet for so long, come on out with it, who died?"

Brooke stared at Haley and closed her eyes and whispered. "Chris."

Haley fell silent then burst out into laughter, "Right, so not funny, now come on tell me what's up?"

Brooke sighed and took hold of Haley's hands, her voice softened, "Chris was…"

"Brooke, I said it's not funny." Said Haley in a slightly sterner tone.

"No Haley listen please, Chris was killed in a car accident last night, he…"

Haley pulled her hands away from Brooke, "You're lying, this is some kind of joke, maybe a little early for April fools; but you almost had me."

"Haley I'm serious."

"No, no I don't believe you." Haley started backing towards the door, "I spoke to him last night, he said he had a surprise for me it's my birthday, he can't die on my birthday, are you stupid Brooke, this is some kind of surprise party thing, where he's gonna pop up any minute, wait, let me ring him and I'm sure his phone will be switched off." Haley picked up her phone and rang Chris she was sent to his voicemail, "Aha see I told you, he's planning something and you're in it too, but I would've come up with something else, something a little better, a little less morbid you know." Suddenly her phone rang, "See that'll be him now, ringing from some random number saying he's caught up at a friends, I'm telling you." Haley picked up, "Yes this is Haley, who is this?... No you must have some mistake... no I saw him yesterday..." Haley dropped the phone; Brooke came to her side and started stroking her hair.

"You're lying… LIARS ALL OF YOU… HE'S NOT DEAD… I SAW HIM YESTERDAY!" Haley ran to the front door and ran outside, Brooke was calling after her but she kept on running, she was still in her pyjamas and stones were digging into her feet but she kept on running with tears streaming down her face, she ran and found herself at the wisteria-covered pergola where she first met Chris, she stood there in silence not knowing how to act or what to do.

Nathan went out jogging the next day to get his mind off of things; he couldn't sleep and had been at the gym since 6 in the morning. It was about 12:30 and he was out jogging, he ran past the wisteria covered pergola and noticed Haley standing there in her pyjamas lifeless. He ran up to her and tapped her on the shoulder "Hey birthday girl, a little late to be in your pyjamas and hey you forgot your shoes, maybe I could buy you some as a birthday pres…." He laughed but quickly stopped as Haley turned to look up at him with her bloodshot eyes.

Nathan's face was full of concern, "Hey what happened?"

Haley broke down hysterically and found herself burying her face into Nathan's chest, Nathan was taken back but instantly found himself stroking her hair and holding her, trying to comfort her. Haley cried for what felt like forever. Nathan pulled her away and spoke softly, "what happened?"

"He told me this place was beautiful, I saw him yesterday, he was fine, he was meant to…meant to surprise me… he was… I…" Haley couldn't find anymore words.

Nathan caressed her cheek and wiped her tears, "Who?"

Haley couldn't bring herself to say his name, it hurt so much, she opened her mouth to say something but felt like she was going to faint, her eyes were closing suddenly and everything around her was spinning.
"Haley, are you o.k.?"

Haley managed to compose herself, feeling sick to the bone and turning extremely pale, "I need to go to the hospital."

Nathan looked back at her still not knowing what happened. "Is everything O.k.?" He asked concerned.

"Will… will you come with me?" She asked as he held her.

"Of course." He said softly, his eyes full of concern, wishing that everything was o.k. with her.

They drove to the hospital in silence, Nathan sill had no idea as to what was wrong with Haley, she wouldn't or couldn't tell him. Once they got there Haley squeezed Nathan's hand, "Thank-you, but you don't have to come in with me."

"I want to." He said, as he wanted to know what it was that was wrong with Haley as he hated seeing her like she was.

They walked up to the reception, where a fairly plump lady sat typing away at her computer.

Haley reached the desk and cleared her throat; the lady looked up and smiled a warm smile that reminded her of her mother's. "How can I help you dear?"

"I'm…I'm…Haley…. James." She managed and took another deep breath. "There was a phone call from you earlier about…"

"Ah, yes of course, Haley James," she made a phone call and sent another friendly looking lady down who came up to them and asked them to follow her with a smile that was filled with remorse.

Haley did as he was told with Nathan close behind her still clueless as to what was happening. Haley froze as she saw the sign above the door, Nathan looked at her and looked up to see what she was looking at, in bold brass letters the words mortuary were above the door. His eyes widened and heart began beating faster, had Haley lost someone. The lady turned around and saw horrified look on Haley's face. "You don't have to do this yet sweetheart."

Haley looked at the lady and whispered, "Yes I do."

She pushed open the heavy doors and followed the woman to a bed which was covered with a white sheet, with someone underneath. Nathan didn't want Haley to go in as he could feel her pain, she tried to keep a straight face but he knew she was breaking in the inside.

The woman placed a hand on Haley's shoulder, Haley nodded, and Nathan held her hand reassuring her that he was by her side. The lady slowly removed the sheet to reveal the body. Haley screamed a scream that was full of pain and remorse and Nathan's eyes widened as his grip loosened from Haley's hand he had just realised who it was, it was Chris, Chris was dead. He looked at Haley as she broke down slowly falling to the ground, he held her before she fell and held her as tight as he could while she stood their screaming, "Why did you leave me?"

Haley turned and buried her face into Nathan's chest and he led her towards the door as the lady covered up the body and followed them outside.

Haley stood there sobbing, she felt that all her tears had come out and could not cry no more, the lady returned and handed Haley a bag that was filled with some of his belongings.

Nathan was still in so much shock and didn't know how to act around Haley. They sat on some chairs that were nearby as Haley had no strength to stand, the bag of his belongings was placed next to Haley. She sat there staring at it as Nathan stared at his hands not knowing what to say. He saw Haley staring at the bag and placed a hand on hers, "Do you want to leave?"

There was no response. Nathan bit his bottom lip trying really hard to think of something comforting to say. "I'm here if you want to talk?" There was still no answer, "Do…do you know… what… how…. It happened?" He asked wishing he didn't as soon as he did.

Haley leaned over to pick up the bag and slowly placed in her lap. Nathan watched her in anticipation. "Do you want some time alone?"

Haley stayed silent, and looked at Nathan with tired, red eyes. "Will you…?" She handing him the bag and gestured for him to take out what was inside, he was taken back as he thought she would want to be left alone. Nathan slowly took the black bag and looked at it. Haley watched him as he slowly took out a big bunch of purple flowers which were damaged and squished together. Haley picked them up and smelt them, she forced a smile and whispered, "He remembered." Then placed them next to her and watched Nathan as he placed his hand back into the bad and withdrew a small box. He handed it to her; she forced another smile and placed it next to her. Then Nathan placed his hand back into the bag and felt something large and soft. He slowly took it out and froze at the sight of it, it was a grey jacket. He froze with the jacket in his hand, his mind was flashing back to the accident. The guy was holding flowers and wore the exact same jacket that Nathan was holding in his hands, Nathan began shaking, it all made sense to him now, the jewellery box, the flowers, the jackets.

"It was Chris!" He mumbled.

Haley stared back at him confused by his abrupt change in behaviour; the colour had all drained from his face. "Nathan." She said shaking his arm, as he seemed to have zoned out on her.

Nathan jumped and quickly handed the jacket to Haley, as he quickly got to his feet. "I … I... I have to... have to go… sorry." He ran out of the hospital as fast as he could. He ran outside and found the nearest bench and sat down catching his breath, his head was in his hands and his mind was spinning.

A little while later Haley came out and found Nathan sitting on the bench looking devastated. She sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Thank-you."

Nathan jumped at the feel of her touch, "Hey, sorry about earlier, it's just…just… hospitals make me nervous." He lied as he hung his head in disgrace.

"It's ok, I'm sorry for dragging you here, I don't know what I would've done without you." She said smiling sympathetically.

Nathan looked away, this was the last thing he needed, Haley being nice to him, he couldn't bring himself to tell her, how was he meant to tell her that he was responsible for Chris's death.

"There's something I need to tell you." They both said at the same time.

Haley laughed, it was the first time she had smiled all day. "You first."

Nathan sighed and looked down at his hands, "Haley there's something you need to know."

"What?"

"Well, it's about Chris."

"Nathan don't worry about it, it was a car accident, no-ones to blame, it's a bit sick that the people never stopped, but I just want to say thank-you for being here, it means a lot." She sighed exhausted from all the crying.

Nathan bit his bottom lip; he couldn't tell her she'd hate him. "Anytime Haley, I'll always be here for you."

Haley held Chris's grey jacket in her hand and hugged it tight, "I think I'm gonna go home. I have to help plan for… his erm…funer…"

"Oh," Nathan interrupted understanding that she couldn't finish the sentence, "Of course, would you erm like me to walk you home?"

"No, thanks, I need some time alone, but thanks again," I guess you kind of have paid me back for saving your life after all, by just being here and helping me today." She smiled then walked off.

Nathan threw his head back in frustration, the guilt was killing him. He had to tell her.