Haley threw her purse and keys on the table by the front door.

Brooke walked in from her bedroom. "How did your day go?"

"It was alright, I guess. How was yours?" Haley replied.

"It went well. I have some potential investors, I'm so excited!" Brooke exclaimed.

"Ahh, Brooke, that's fantastic!" Haley ran over to hug her friend.

"I need to show you a few swatches and get your honest opinion on them," Brooke said.

Haley smiled, "okay, I'd be happy to look at them…but I'm hardly a designer."

Brooke shrugged, "but you know what you like, that's what I need. Your honest opinion."

Haley smiled again but the smile never quite reached her eyes.

"Did you talk to Nathan?" Brooke asked curiously.

Haley relayed the lunch conversation and what she and Nathan had discussed.

Brooke smiled, "...good. I'm glad. I was worried I was gonna have to go beat his ass."

Haley laughed lightly. "Nah, I don't think that'll be necessary."

"Well, if everything is okay, why do you seem down, friend?" Brooke asked.

She knew her best friend too well.

"Well, everything was fine until I had to met his ex girlfriend Lisa who also happens to be a model."

"Oh sh%$," Brooke couldn't hide her surprise.

"Yeah, my sentiments exactly," Haley said wryly.

"What was she doing there?"

"Apparently, she's going to be in a new commercial for one of our biggest clients' new image campaign…and guess who they want to be in it with her?"

"I don't know, who?" Brooke asked.

Haley looked at her, "Nathan."

Brooke's eyebrows perked up and then she just looked confused.
"Wait a minute. Nathan's not an actor or a model-"

"Yeah, but Lisa wants him in it," Haley said, looking dejected.

Brooke's mouth fell open, still in confusion, "what the hell is going on here?"

"The girl looks like she just friggin' walked out of a boho chic magazine...I don't even have the right hair," Haley pouted.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "listen, Nathan likes you...that much is obvious."

"Well, from what I gather, he also liked Lisa at one time...and now he has to see her again...."

Brooke was quiet for a minute. "Oh so what? Don't let that get to you...just focus on getting to know him - you guys are dating now, right?"

Haley nodded, "I guess...why do I suddenly feel like I'm back in jr. high school? Wondering if the jock is going to pick the prom queen over me?"

"...because you're mental," Brooke said sarcastically. "When are you all going out again?"

"I'm not sure...we haven't really talked about it. He called me on the way home from work though," Haley said with a smile.

Brooke's smile brightened. "See?! I'd say you don't have anything to worry about."

Haley smiled. Somehow, she didn't seem so sure.

~~~~

"Hell of a day huh?" Lucas asked Nathan when he walked in to the kitchen.

"You got that right," Nathan replied.

"Nathan Scott and all of his women…hey, I tried to warn you as soon as I heard about the Hurricane," Lucas said, referring to Lisa by her nickname.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "I know and thanks...I was more concerned with clearing the air with Haley though...I am not going to waste another minute worrying about Lisa."

"Good to know...so you're really over all of that huh?" Lucas asked, a curious tone evident in his voice.

"Of course," Nathan said. "That was only reaffirmed when she showed up at the office, twice."

"Good...then you shouldn't have any problem doing this commercial with her then," Lucas said, hopeful.

"I know what a big deal this is for us. So, yes, Lucas, I will do the commercial. If that's what they really want," Nathan replied.

"Yes! Excellent!" Lucas exclaimed. He proceeded to call the Bentley's to work out the details.

~~~

8:00pm that night – Haley and Brooke were in the living room watching a marathon of reality TV.

Brooke was sprawled out in the floor, painting her toenails and Haley was lying on the couch. There was a knock at the door that made the two nearly jump out of their skin.

Brooke jumped up to look through the peephole.

"Get up! Get up!" she said in a loud whisper. "It's Nathan!"

Haley jumped up in horror at the fact that she was in a ratty old t-shirt and shorts.

"Go! I'll cover for you!" Brooke said as Haley jumped over the coffee table and made a beeline for her bedroom.

Brooke opened the door. "Hey Nathan. Nice to see you! Haley's...uh, in her bedroom...she'll be back in a minute."

Nathan looked curiously but didn't say anything other Hello and asked Brooke how she was doing. The two were making casual conversation as Haley was in her bedroom throwing on a tank top and a pair of dark jeans.

Haley emerged a moment later and smiled.

Nathan looked over at her and grinned, "Hey...sorry I didn't call first."

"No problem," Haley said casually, trying to mask the fact she was out of breath from all the running around to find a cute outfit.

Haley walked back toward her room and Nathan followed.

"So what's going on?" she asked as he sat on her bed and she shut the door.

"I've decided to do the commercial," Nathan replied.

Haley only nodded, silent for a couple of minutes.

"You think it's a bad idea," Nathan said quietly.

"No, not at all...I think its great...as long as its something you want," Haley said.

"I'm okay with it. I can see how much this means to the company and to my brother, so I'll handle it," Nathan replied. "I've gotten past all of that other stuff."

Haley was quiet, when Nathan spoke up, "...I wasn't as forthcoming as I should have been...but Lisa and I...we dated for a while...but things didn't work out."

Haley could tell he was searching for any expression to show that she'd already been privy to this information.

She nodded slightly, "I kind of picked up on that when she mentioned you had taken her back to North Carolina to meet your family."

"That's right, she did say that in the office," Nathan had said, feeling stupid and regretting that Haley would discover the truth under those circumstances.

"I need you to know though... things are very different now. It's been over between Lisa and me for a long time," Nathan said.

He stood up and walked over to Haley. He lightly touched her cheek.

"I'm getting to know someone like you...and its changed everything for me."

Haley smiled. Nathan took her face in his hands and kissed her gently.

"Well, I had just wanted to talk about it with you...get your opinion," Nathan said.

He slowly walked toward the door. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Haley caught Nathan's hand as he turned. "No....don't go," she found herself saying to him.

Nathan turned to look at her, her hand still holding his.

"Will you stay here with me tonight?" she asked, looking him in the eye.

Nathan smiled, looking into her eyes. "I was hoping you would say that."