What was that about?" I asked approaching Brooke.

Brooke looked disappointed that I had seen Nathan, "It was nothing....he was just saying 'Hello.' I'm sorry...he was supposed to be out of town -- I'm going to kill Lucas."

"I don't care about that," I said. "I am just wondering what gives him the right to approach my friends," I knew I was being bold - it was alcohol-induced for sure but I was angry.

"Haley, please...just leave it," Brooke said cautiously. She knew me well - she could tell I'd reached my drinking limit.

For the most part, I could be the 'fun drunk' of any group -- but sometimes, if there was already resentment or anger present, it seemed to be enhanced with intoxication.

Brooke tried to stop me but I brushed her hand away as I walked wobbly over to Nathan, who was standing with the blonde girl from before.

"Hello!" I said, approaching Nathan who looked genuinely surprised and not at all sure of what to expect from me.

"So, are you drunk as usual?" I asked him.

Nathan just looked at me for a second, "actually I've had one drink all night...but thanks for asking."

"Well, good for you! That's a first!"

"Haley," Nathan said sternly.

"What? I'm just speaking the truth, Nathan...you're all about being honest, right?" I said, looking right at him.

Nathan narrowed his eyes and a second later I felt someone pulling on my arm.

"Hey, we need to go...now," Brooke said, looking from me to Nathan to the blonde girl.

"Why? The night is young and I'm here having a wonderful conversation with Nathan and his lady friend," I replied.

Nathan looked quizzically at Brooke, waiting to see what she would say.

"I know but we really need to go -- besides Todd is looking for you...he thought you left," Brooke said.

"Oh Todd, I forgot!" I said. "It was nice seeing you both," I said, walking away quickly, thinking over and over what a stupid person I was...why couldn't I just deal and let it go?

"What are you doing, Haley? This isn't you," Brooke said, still holding my arm as I walked back to the bar.

"I don't know...just don't remind me about this tomorrow, alright?" I asked shakily.

"Are you alright?" the blonde girl asked Nathan as he watched from across the room.

His attention snapped back to the girl beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine -- hey, it was very nice to meet ya...I'm gonna be heading out now though," he said quickly with a smile and walked away toward the door.

~~~~

Brooke and I were singing along to the radio in the cab - I'm sure it was quite annoying to the poor cab drivers who have to drive the drunks home at 2am.

Brooke had already decided to stay over and sleep on my couch. We pulled up to my apartment, paid the cab driver and stepped out.

Brooke noticed before I did, "oh my god..."

"What?" I asked, turning to look at what she had seen.

Sitting on my porch, bundled up in a big coat and sitting in my swing was Nathan.

~~~~~

Nathan watched us walk up the sidewalk to the porch.

"For the second time tonight, what the hell are you doing here?" Brooke asked.

"Brooke! Let me handle this, please!" I said, cutting her off.

Nathan stood up from the swing.

Brooke took my key, walking past Nathan giving him a glare and without so much as a word, unlocked the front door and stepped inside.

Nathan just looked at me.

"What?" I practically yelled. Most of the effects of the alcohol were gone -- now I was just angry and frustrated. "What do you want from me?"

Nathan looked down, "I wanted to make sure you would be alright -- you looked pretty out of it at the bar."

"It's not your job to protect me," I retorted.

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I've stopped caring about you...for some reason you seem to think that," Nathan said.

"...because if you really cared about me, you would just leave me alone," I said, feeling the tears ready to stream. Damn alcohol.

Nathan shut his eyes -- "I've hurt you pretty badly-- but I can't turn away without knowing you will be okay..."

"I'll be fine -- I need to do this on my own but this is hard and you aren't making things any easier for me...." I said. Nathan nodded quietly, looking sullen.

"I'm sorry," was all he said.

I was silent for a moment and then made a bold question known. "What would you have done if I had stepped out of the cab with a guy?"

Nathan looked at me, "I don't know, honestly. I hadn't really thought about that. You've never been the type to pick up a guy in a bar."

I merely smirked in response. "Well, people can do things that will surprise you. Maybe I'm not the girl I used to be. Could you really just be my friend? Could you watch me date other guys?"

Nathan swallowed hard, thinking. "Once again, something I hadn't really thought about either...probably not."

I nodded. "That's the predicament I'm left with -- I can't be with you so I don't want to have to watch someone else be with you, even casually...maybe someday we can be friends and that's stretching it – but definitely not right now," I said.

Nathan nodded in response.

We were both silent a moment. Nathan turned toward the porch step.

"I promise, I won't bother you any more -- but if you do decide that you want me in your life—if or when you're ready, I'll be here."

That said, he turned and walked down the sidewalk and over to his car.

I shook my head, watching him leave and then turned to enter my apartment.

~~~

"What the hell is wrong with that guy?!" Brooke exclaimed as I walked in the door.

"He's struggling -- just for different reasons than me," I replied.

"Well that's not good enough!" Brooke yelled. "He chose this -- so now he has to deal with it...he wants to be able to date who he wants but still have you there, hanging by a thread, waiting for him to grow up.... f&^% that!" Brooke was angry by this point.

I sighed, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

~~~

The next six months went by in a flurry. I was finishing up graduate classes and working 50 hour work weeks at the restaurant. Nathan had kept his word- I didn't hear from him a single time. Inevitably, this made things easier with each passing day.

He had been gone most of the time – basketball season started back up which allowed him little time to come back to Tree Hill.

Through his high profile, Nathan had gotten the opportunity to schmooze with other high profile celebrities - I always heard rumblings that he was dating this actress or that model but none of it ever seemed to stick. I guess in the back of my mind, I was glad -- that meant that it wasn't just me -- I couldn't keep him but neither could anyone else....

I had actually begun dating Todd - the guy from that night at the club. He had been so sweet and supportive throughout the whole emotional mess of things.

We had been dating for the past six months and things were going wonderfully. He even asked my father's permission before giving me a beautiful engagement ring this past Christmas.

I finally felt happy and complete -- I had gotten Nathan out of my life and out of my heart...at least I thought so.

Apparently, fate had one more joke to play at my expense.

~~
"It's tradition and as your maid of honor, I have put together an unforgettable bachelorette weekend celebration!" Brooke announced to me on Friday morning.

We had both taken the day off work to kick off our big weekend.

She had been planning this for months, practically once the engagement itself had been announced.

"Todd and I aren't even getting married for another year," I had told her carefully when she had first told me of these big plans.

"That doesn't matter!" Brooke declared. "You're engaged, therefore, you get a bachelorette party. That's the rules - and guidelines don't stipulate any time limits, don't you know that?!"

I laughed, "well, actually, the 'Bride-to-be guidelines handbook' kind of bypassed my place, so no..."

She rolled her eyes and laughed.

Friday afternoon, we had planned to have a full spa treatment day at the Salon Sonya & Spa - complete with manicures, pedicures and massages. Those activities would then lead us to the big Friday night gathering at the Masonboro venue. I had invited a few of the girls I had gone to school with as well as some female co-workers. Peyton was also flying in from Los Angeles for the festivities.

The afternoon rolled on as Brooke and I enjoyed our 'luxurious treatments' at Salon Sonya.

As I was leaving the spa, I couldn't remember a time in which I had felt more content and relaxed. It was such a wonderful feeling!

Our group was assembled at my apartment and Brooke had arranged a car to take us to Masonboro

"Wow, you really went all out, didn't you?" I smiled and asked her as the town car pulled up to the drive.

Brooke just grinned, "....of course! Like I told you, this is a huge tradition in my family!"

Our group laughed and talked until the driver pulled up to the corner of Front and Market Street.

"We're here!" Brooke announced, opening the door.

We all stepped out on the sidewalk and Brooke spoke to the matre 'de.

He ushered us inside and to a section near the back with plush leather sofas and a big dance floor.

Brooke started off by ordering us a bottle of champagne.

Then, she reached in to the bag she had brought with her and pulled out a tiara covered by a white lace veil.

The girls giggled and I burst out laughing.

Brooke looked at me and smiled, "...in keeping with the tradition, the bride-to-be has to wear this all night so that everyone who sees her can immediately know what she's celebrating!"

I laughed heartily, taking the veiled tiara and put it on my head.

The chatting and laughs continued for three hours, along with two appetizers and four bottles of champagne.

Needless to say, all of us were well on our way to feeling pretty good, some more so than others.

"So, what's next?" Peyton asked in a bubbly tone.

Brooke raised her eyebrows and smiled, "...well, from here on, Haley decides! You want to go dancing?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed so excitedly that Peyton nearly choked on the champagne she was sipping.

"Alright, where should we go?" Brooke asked.

"How about Tric?!" Tara, our friend from high school piped up.

I wasn't in any way going to argue - Tric was always a great place to dance.

Brooke settled our bill with the waiter and all of us gathered our things to head off into the chilled evening air.

Our town car was waiting for us out front - we all hopped in the back and Brooke gave directions to Tric.

I was laughing and singing along with the music playing.

It was a short car ride to Tric- the line to enter the club was as long as usual.

Jesse was working the door - we had been good friends with him in college.

"Jesse!! We're celebrating this chick tonight!" Brooke said, putting an arm around my shoulder while I was still wearing the tiara. I am sure it looked ridiculous to everyone else but I didn't care - I was too happy to worry about anything.

Jesse grinned, allowing us access ahead of everyone who had been waiting and was no doubt angry by this point.

It was around midnight so the club was pretty well packed and into the full swing of things.

Dancing figures crowded the dance floor and the music was amped to full volume from the speakers strategically placed around the bar and dance floor.

I was handed another drink before I even knew what was going on and so I continued...through one mixed drink after another.

We had grabbed one of the tables near the bar and were there for a couple of minutes when 'SexyBack' started pumping on the speakers. I jumped up.

"I want to dance!" I exclaimed, clearly not myself at all.

Peyton burst out laughing at this huge change in my demeanor, even if only temporarily.

I headed out to the dance floor, not really knowing if any of the girls were following me and not much caring at the time.

I started dancing in time to the music and before long, there were others dancing around me.

~~~~

After a few dances, I broke away from the group to order another drink. I stumbled past a couple of tables until I turned and ran straight into a guy who had been standing in front of me.

"Oh s&^%! I am so sorry!" I said, my heavy eyelids betraying the sober behavior I was attempting.

The guy turned to look down at me.

His eyes went from my face to the top of my head - that was when his expression went from surprise to full-on shock. He appeared to be staring in shock at the wedding veil tiara on my head.

The guy was Nathan.