Sorry it's been a while since my last update, school has been killing me.

Anyway, please Read and Review and thanks to those that have reviewed before! The reviews really are what keep me updating.

By the way Arlie Gardens is a really cool place in Wilmington, so no it has never been mentioned in One Tree Hill, but I hope you guys don't mind too much that I put it in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters and such. If I did the Naley scenes in the first few episodes of the new season would've been much better (and Nathan would've cut his damn hair along with shaving).

Bold face is reality with Haley in a coma, Normal is the dream world, and Italics are the thoughts

The next installment of the story shall now begin, in a corner of a crowded high school hallway….

Keller Hiding

Nathan saw her just walking down the hallway. He took a deep breath. I can't believe I'm acting like a junior-higher, I'm Nathan Scott.

Nathan walked from out behind the locker he had actually managed to hide behind and ran right into Haley.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you Haley."

"It's alright Nathan," Haley looked at Nathan, a question in her eyes.

"So, uh, where are you off to?" Nathan asked uneasily.

"AP History, what about you?"

"I'm going that way too," Nathan lied. He could be late to math if he could talk to Haley.

It had been numerous weeks since Haley's return in the Gym that night, and Nathan couldn't help but look forward to talking to her again. He still loved her with all his heart even though he still did his best to hide it. Nathan wouldn't admit it to himself, but his hopes had risen that Haley would stay after graduation and not go back on tour.

Haley smiled up at Nathan and the two began to walk down the hallway towards Haley's history classroom.

"I know there isn't much point in asking, but how's school going for you Haley?"

"Actually Nathan, I'm behind in my classes."

Nathan completely stopped walking and looked down at the smartest girl he had ever met, "How did that happen?"

Haley looked nervous, "I left school for a year to go on a concert tour, remember?"

"But weren't you a year ahead of us anyway?"

Haley laughed a little, "You always expected too much of me." Haley's face reddened slightly as she realized what she had said. Quickly, she moved on, "I was a semester ahead, maybe, but not a year. And now that I'm back and haven't studied for a year, it's hard for me to get back into things."

Nathan placed a comforting hand on Haley's shoulder, sending a reluctant electric jolt through her body, "After my accident last year I had a hard time getting back into the game. At High Flyers someone reminded me that I can't get it all back at once, to take it slow, and that one day I'll be back better than ever. He had it right, my game is at its peak right now, I've never been better. I have faith in you Hales, you'll be fine in school and just life in general."

To Haley's shock tears formed in her eyes. She instantly moved to wipe them away, but it was too late, Nathan had seen them.

"What's wrong Haley?"

Haley blinked a few times, "It's nothing Nathan."

Nathan's voice was full of concern, "No really, I want to know what's bothering you."

Haley found a sudden interest in the floor of the hallway. She didn't mean to tell him, but it just slipped out, "That was the first time you called me Hales since I came home. I know it isn't a big deal, I just…"

Nathan very cautiously placed a hand under Haley's chin and tilted her face up, "I'm sorry it's taken me this long to call you something that should be completely natural for us."

More tears slid out of Haley's eyes, but she made no move to wipe them away. Nathan did, he hesitantly wiped the tears away with his thumb. Haley was aching inside, Nathan was being so good to her, but she couldn't do it, she couldn't be honest.

The two's moment was interrupted by the bell ringing, they silently parted.

As Nathan walked to his math class a smile was on his face.

As Haley walked into her AP History class a pained expression was on her face. She hadn't told Nathan about Chris being back in town and the worst part was: she didn't know why.

"What's happening to the world so that what should be one of the happiest days for two boys who worked so hard for turns out to be their worst nightmares?" Whitey asked, his wrinkled hands rubbing over his eyes, "What's this world coming to without you Keith?" Whitey picked up a picture of a young teenager with dark brown hair and the number 22 printed on his jersey. He sighed, "If you were here I'm sure you would be offering some sage advice. Hell Keith, if you were here we probably wouldn't be in this damn situation!" Whitey returned the picture to its rightful place on his desk. He turned his gaze to a photo from the previous year, when the Ravens had won their 500th game, the smiling faces of the team, especially Nathan's burning into his mind. He quietly said, "We lost you too early son. I can only pray we don't lose anyone else even earlier."

"Ready to work out?" Nathan asked Lucas when outside of Karen's Café, Lucas had just gotten off his shift.

"Yeah man."

Nathan rolled his eyes, yet he was still smiling. He would never admit it, but Haley's return was putting him in better and better spirits, "Alright man, what's wrong now?"

Lucas looked at his finally smiling little brother and just couldn't tell him about Chris, "I'm just wondering why you weren't at practice today. The state championship is this weekend in case you forgot."

"I know, but after school this dipshit teacher sent Haley and me to the principal's office. By the time we actually got there school was already over and the office was crowded, we wanted to leave, but we figured the teacher would check the office log so we waited until Principal Turner would see us. He immediately dismissed us, but by the time we were out of there I figured it was late enough I shouldn't go to practice. I already apologized to Whitey about it, I have to make it up to him tomorrow morning. Sounds like fun right?"

"Lots of fun, good luck."

"Thanks man, I'll need it."

As they started their jog around town, Lucas kept glancing over at Nathan. Lucas had heard about the getting sent to the office episode and how it had been because Nathan and Haley had been caught blushing together in class. Lucas made a mental note to ask Jake about it later since he was in their class.

When they arrived at the River Court Nathan turned to Lucas, "Hey, I'm gonna run a little extra, make up for missing practice, you know."

"Won't Whitey have you make up for it enough tomorrow?"

"Nah, Whitey won't be that bad. I've lived with Dan most of my life remember?"

Lucas laughed a little, "Good point, hey where is Dan anyway? I thought he'd be all over you right now with the championship so close."

"He's been out of town, supposedly doing some Mayor thing. I'll be here in an hour, will you still be here?"

"Proabably. Later, Nate."

"See ya Luke!" With that Nathan took off running.

"Hey Nate…" Lucas managed when he was wheeled into Haley's room by Brooke.

"Luke you're really awake!" Nathan said. What little room for happiness there was in him appeared in his voice when he saw his older brother enter the room.

"Yea man, you actually think I would let Dan and his stupid HCM be the reason I die?"

Brooke smiled and leaned down to Lucas' ear, she whispered, "Hey Luke, I'm going to go now. Will you be all right?"

"Yeah. Thanks Brooke, for all you've done." He grabbed her hand briefly as she walked out of the room.

"You guys back together?" Nathan asked when Brooke was out of ear-shot.

"I hope we will be."

"What about that kiss with Peyton?"

"I was confused…Brooke had hurt me with ignoring me, hooking up with Nick, and not really explaining things to me. Throughout all that Peyton had been there, but after almost dying I realize I'm still the guy for Brooke Davis. Also I realize now that Peyton was there for me when I thought I needed her, but when I actually did need someone, Brooke was the only one here."

"Peyton just has a hard time dealing with stuff."

"I know…anyway enough about me. How's Haley?"

Nathan stared at his beloved, still bruised and hurt. "The same, no better, no worse."

"I'm sorry Nate, but it wasn't your fault."

"Did Brooke tell you who hit her?! How can it NOT be my fault?!"

"You did the right thing in the end Nate. If you had made us lose that game, you wouldn't be the guy Haley loves Nathan. Despite all the bad, you're still a good guy and Haley, more than anyone, knows that Nate. She'll come back."

Nathan was sick of the pity, sick of people saying it wasn't his fault when it clearly was. He didn't know how to express that though and just sat there staring at Haley.

"Ya know Luke, when I was in a coma last year…" Nathan began, "I had this dream world. Dan left my mom and married Karen. Haley and I were the best friends. That time in that world was amazing."

"Maybe Haley has her own dream world right now; a world where you guys don't have to deal with Dan, money, basketball, school, where it can just be you two together."

"I hope not."

"Why?"Why would Nathan not want Haley to be happy when she's hurt?

"She'll have no reason to come back to me."

"What do you mean? I mean you just said you had an amazing time in that world, but you came back."

"I came back because of Haley. She made me realize just how much I loved her and that deep down she loved me too. She made me realize that I can't give up as easily as I had, I had to go find her and bring her home… Haley knows I love her, and I know Haley loves me. If she could choose between the angst free-world, even if it wasn't real, or the world where we have to deal with all this stuff, she would choose that one without a doubt."

"Why are you back Chris?" Haley asked him on a bench in Arlie Gardens, she couldn't see any of her friends—especially Nathan—taking one step in there.

Chris didn't even look at Haley. He was staring at the sky, as if he was trying to soak up the sun. "When I went back to the agency for my own hiatus I asked for you so we could hang out. They told me that they sent you back here."

"Yep they sent me back to little 'ol Tree Hill so I could get my diploma," there was a tone in Haley's voice that Chris couldn't quite place.

"They forgot about Nathan, Haley." Chris shook his head, "They didn't realize by sending you back they might lose you forever. I flipped out at them and so they sent me here to make sure you do come back on tour with me." Chris finally turned his gaze to Haley.

He was shocked to see Haley glaring at him, "Why did you have to say that stuff in front of Brooke and Lucas? I am so going to pay for that later."

"I had to remind them that you're leaving again, that you being here is not a permanent thing."

Haley was careful not to agree nor disagree with Chris, "You could've picked a way to remind them that didn't imply something going on between us."

Chris laughed and placed an arm across Haley's shoulders, "But Hales, there is something going on between us. The music never lies remember?"

Nathan Scott was running in a part of town he only went to when he wanted to avoid people, Arlie Gardens. He would never admit it, but the open grounds and flowers mixed with the smell of the ocean could always calm him down.

He was enjoying his run and the small breeze when he noticed a familiar beautiful girl sitting on a bench. Her blond hair was up and under a(n ugly) knit hat. She was also wearing bulky sunglasses. It was as if to try to disguise herself, but she couldn't fool Nathan. He smiled a little as he realized who it was, but then he spotted who she was with. He would never forget that annoying brown hair and face for the rest of his life.

Anger coursed through Nathan as all the bad memories of Haley leaving flashed through his mind. What the hell is he doing back?

As Nathan stared at the pair, confusion written all over his face, Chris put an arm around Haley's shoulders.