I'm concerned that I've made Haley pretty…

Alright so my grandma in Wilmington that has heard of this thing called a computer hasn't heard of Microsoft word apparently and when I plugged my flashdrive in nothing would download so I didn't get to work on this or my other story at all while I was gone. I've been writing since I got back and as seems to be the case, I don't think this chapter is as edited as I wanted it to be, however I'm going to post it anyway because I don't have time to work on it for a few more days. So I'm very sorry for any extra bits of bad wording, spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, etc. I might even go back and re-edit it this chapter if I ever get a chance...if I do anything major I'll let everyone know...

Please Read and Review and I don't think I'll ever be able to say enough how grateful I am for those of you that do. It makes my day to see the hits on my story and the reviews I've gotten, so really, thank you.

Have you guys heard about Bryan Greenberg(Jake)? His show, October Road, was cancelled so a lot of people were excited because he was free to come back to One Tree Hill right? Wrong. He's announced that he is done with TV and is going to concentrate on movies….No more Jake, ever :(

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters and such.

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

The next installment of the story shall now begin in a street full of teenagers who are doing their best to act their age….

Guilt and Hurricanes

"Who's up for a game of three-on-three?" Nathan asked once things had calmed down and Peyton had thrown Lucas' water gun into the river.

Jake grinned, "I am!"

"Is basketball all you guys really think about?" Peyton asked while rolling her eyes.

Lucas made eye contact with Haley and with a meaningful smile said, "For the other two seconds."

"What's that supposed to mean Broody?" Brooke asked.

Haley got his meaning when she remembered how she grilled Lucas about the rumor that guys think about sex every three seconds when she was dating Nathan.

"Ah nothing Brooke! So off to the Rivercourt?" Haley said, trying to change topics.

"Actually, Broody and I have to go to Karen's for something, how about we meet you there at say 8 o'clock?"

Everyone knew Brooke wasn't really asking, but commanding them to find something else to do before meeting up at the Rivercourt.

Haley rolled her eyes, "Do we even want to know what you guys have to do at 'Karen's'?"

Lucas grinned, "Nope."

Nathan took one of Haley's hands as she covered her eyes with the other. "The scarring!" She exclaimed while Nathan laughed.

"So we'll meet you at the Rivercourt at eight for an intense match of three-on-three with the girls. Gotcha," Nathan said.

"Make sure you're dressed nicely though!" Brooke shouted as Nathan, Haley, Peyton, and Jake started to walk away.

Haley stopped and looked over at Peyton, "What does she have planned?"

"I guess we'll find out. It's Brooke so it's bound to be at least entertaining."

Nathan cursed the sunlight. "I hate you!" He yelled passionately.

"I'm sorry for whatever I did to you Nathan," Karen said from behind him.

Nathan blinked when he turned and looked at Karen. "I wasn't talking to you," he explained simply.

"Well who were you talking to then?"

The sun continued to beat down on him. Nathan looked up at it and glared. "The sun."

"Why do you hate the sun?"

"It was raining last night. Raining was our symbol," Nathan explained. "I thought she was coming back to me, I thought Keith was bringing her back. But it was all for nothing, the sun came and Haley didn't."

Now it was Karen's turn to blink, for her it was at the mention of Keith's name. "She'll come back to you Nathan. You know, the sun is a sign of hope to some."

Nathan resumed his glare at the bright ball in the sky, "Hope is pointless."

"Hope is everything Nathan. It's all we have," Karen said sympathetically.

Out of nowhere a breeze blew by, gently caressing Nathan's angry face. He remembered his plea the night before.

"Well I guess we have nothing," he said curtly before turning and walking to Karen's car, ignoring the breeze the whole time.

"It's hot."

"Wow Jake you can state the obvious," Peyton teased.

"It's May. It's hot. It's a month from graduation so our teachers don't care anymore. Let's go to the beach," Nathan suggested.

"I haven't been to the beach since the start of senior year bash, back when I thought Ellie was a creepy druggie," Peyton said sadly in reference of her recently deceased from breast cancer biological mother.

"That's better than me, last time I was there I was burning—" Nathan looked over at Haley and suddenly cut his sentence off. "Some stuff," he said instead of 'the wedding board.'

"The last time I was at a beach," Haley began. "Chris Keller was getting drunk and hitting on me."

"I haven't been to the beach since I was with Nikki," Jake added before Nathan could say something.

Peyton glanced around at all of her friends and came to a realization. "I think we all need to make some new memories of the beach because our memories right now suck! You guys up for it?"

They all made eye contact before nodding and heading off for their swimsuits.

Empty. That was the only word Nathan could think of to describe the apartment. Karen had already left. She had offered to stay, but Nathan had said he was fine. Yet as he stood in the doorway to the apartment he realized how great of a lie that had been, he was anything but fine.

He finally took one step into the apartment and then another…and another. Eventually, he made his way to the bathroom and started up the warm water. When the steam started to rise, her scent hit him full in the face.

Nathan felt the pain hit him hard. Haley had once mentioned in their tutoring sessions that smell was the sense that brought back memories the strongest, he didn't realize until then just how powerful that was. He put his hands on the wall to hold himself up as he remembered the day of the championship now when Haley had done her best to cheer him up before the game when he had been secretly upset over having to throw the game.

"Oh God…please Haley…be alright," Nathan pleaded as he placed his head against the shower's wall.

"Peyton, I don't have a swimsuit," Haley said when they got to the apartment. They were going to meet Nathan and Jake at the beach in half an hour.

Peyton simply shrugged. "Just use one of Brooke's. I'm sure she won't mind."

"Do any of Brooke's swimsuits actually have material? I thought they would just be two strings and leaves so she could get them off easily."

Peyton laughed. "Actually Brooke likes bikinis so you have a few to choose from, but I bet she has a leaf one if you want to use it."

"I think I'll take another, spare you from plucking your eyes out."

"From what? Seeing Nathan immediately pull it off you as he spies you?"

Red immediately started to creep up Haley's face. "It was a joke, relax," Peyton teased while she pulled out a beautiful blue two piece suit at Haley.

"Modest, but sexy at the same time. I'm sure it will make Nathan go crazy, that is the plan right?"

"As long as Jake is going crazy with him."

"I can't believe Brooke is missing out on the crazy guy fest!" Peyton laughed.

"Oh I think she has her own crazy guy fest going on right now," Haley pointed out.

"Good point."

The two reconciled friends changed and started down to the beach to meet their loves.

Step by step he walked up the city street. Kids were squealing with happiness as they played a game. Nathan had lost track of the days, he didn't know if those kids should be in school or not.

"Hey Mister, do you have a quarter?" A little girl asked Nathan.

Nathan was going to keep on walking except he glanced at the little girl and then did a double take. She had shoulder-length dirty blond hair with deep brown eyes and an innocent face. He was strongly reminded of a younger version of Haley.

He bent down so he was level with the girl and asked, "What's you name?"

"I'm Bailey mister."

Nathan nodded and asked the little girl, "What do you need fifty cents for Bailey?"

"There's a piece of candy for fifty cents! My friend that I call Duke has a quarter so we need only one more!"

Nathan nodded and reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill. He handed it to the little girl who reminded him so much of Haley "Here Bailey, you and Duke go buy two pieces of candy, and keep Duke's quarter."

The girl smiled brilliantly as she ran up the street to a boy with sandy blond hair and a basketball in his hand, "Duke! Duke he gave me a whole dollar!"

The two kids were so excited they forgot to thank Nathan, but he didn't mind.

Bailey and Duke; Haley and Luke. I wonder what the future has for each of them…

"Why did we agree to this?" Nathan asked Jake when the girls were busy tanning in their swimsuits and he and Jake were in the water 'cooling off.'

Jake shook his head. "I guess we weren't thinking. I keep wondering whether or not I'll get arrested if I go and rip that green top off of Peyton."

"You're not the only one man." Jake looked at Nathan skeptically, "Of Haley not Peyton." Nathan smirked, "Been there done that."

"Hey that's my girlfriend you're talking about!" Jake said while he punched Nathan in the shoulder.

Nathan simply laughed in response, "I was just kidding man."

"Still, this is torture," Jake said when they looked back up at the girls.

After several moments of painful staring, Nathan turned to Jake, "Screw this I'm going to go have some fun."

"Hey don't leave me out!" Jake called as Nathan started to walk up the beach to the girls.

Nathan stood in the street in front of Karen's Café. The same street where Haley had shoved Nathan out of the way and then had been hit violently by a car driven by a man who hated Nathan, not Haley.

This shouldn't have happened! Nathan cursed everything in sight.

He glared at the road where he and Haley had danced before his life came crashing down.

A cloud unblocked the sun and Nathan saw something on the street. It looked like someone had scrubbed, but there was one stain that was stubborn and wouldn't disappear completely.

The stain on the street was permanent.

The stain of Nathan's sin was permanent on his soul like the stain of Haley's blood on the street.

Nathan barely made the trash can before he threw up. Tears already starting to spill out of his eyes.

"What have I done?" He asked no one in particular as he slowly made his way into Karen's Café.

"Need help with the sunscreen?" Nathan casually asked Haley as he sat down next to her.

Haley looked away and smirked. She knew she was torturing him and was enjoying it. "No I think I'm good. Peyton helped me with it earlier."

Nathan glared at Peyton while Jake glared at Haley. "I'm guessing you helped her with it too?" Jake asked Haley.

Peyton lazily answered, "You got it."

"Hey Peyton why don't you go test out the water with me?" Jake offered next.

"I like where I am, thanks though. Maybe later."

The guys looked at each other. This was getting nowhere fast. "Well we're going to go cool off again, you sure don't want to join?"

For the last part Nathan had moved his head right next to Haley's ear so his breath went across her face.

"Nope. I'm good," She replied, barely managing to keep her cool.

Nathan sighed and started to walk back to the water, Jake beside him.

"They're doing this on purpose you know," Jake said with a glance over his shoulder to see Peyton and Haley laughing at them.

Nathan smirked as two pretty girls swam in front of them. "Time to get even Jagielski."

"You saw it!" Deb exclaimed immediately when she saw Nathan enter Karen's Café a few minutes later. "I told them it was still there! Oh Nathan, I'm so sorry.

The people sitting at the tables all stopped what they were doing and looked up at the pale and weak looking Nathan Scott. Most were regulars and had heard Deb and Karen constantly calling the city and Dan about the stain on the street, all had pity in their gaze as they watched Nathan carefully.

Pain started to rise in the seventeen year old. "Mom, how can that still be there? After all the scrubbing, all the rain, the days that have passed, how can that-" Nathan's voice faltered and he started to feel sick again, "that stain still be on the road?"

"Oh Nate," Deb said, sympathy rolling off of her. She set the coffee pot she was holding down and put her arms around her strong son.

Nathan felt the gazes of everyone in the café on him. He felt the pity and he hated it. I don't even deserve their pity. If they knew what I had done would they still look at me like this? Would my mom still hold me as if I was only five?

Nathan broke out of his mother's hug and dashed out of the café. He couldn't help it as he ran away, he glanced into the street. However, the lighting hid the sickening stain just as his grief hid his sin.

"Hey ladies," Nathan called out. The two pretty girls turned to see him with his 'I'm hot and I know it' smirk on. Jake simply stared at him, wondering why Nathan was jeopardizing what he had just gotten back with Haley.

As Nathan predicted, the two girls immediately started to walk over. "Hi," One with brown hair and green eyes said to him. The other girl was staring at him oddly, as if she recognized him from a long time before. This other girl had jet black hair and had pretty dark eyes that looked oddly familiar to Nathan.

The brown-haired girl added, "My name is Jamie."

Nathan smiled. "We were wondering if you two could do us a favor, nothing big. Just a little something to make our girlfriends jealous. This doofus here is Jake Jagielski and I'm Nathan Scott."

"NATHAN SCOTT! I knew it was you!" The girl with black hair exclaimed with an excited grin.

Suddenly, Nathan realized who exactly this other girl was and Nathan wanted to kick himself as hard as he could.

Why did I leave the hospital room? Nathan asked himself as he sat on the bench near the Rivercourt. It kept me with Haley. It kept me away from all the people. It kept away the sunlight. That room gave me security, why did I listen to Brooke and Lucas? Nathan asked himself again and again as he watched the river float on by.

As much as he wished that he hadn't left the hospital room, Nathan couldn't make himself go back just yet. He had to find a way to make things better first.

Haley watched her husband start talking to two girls with Jake standing awkwardly by him. She recognized one of the girls, but was praying she was wrong and wondering why Nathan wasn't running away.

Once the girl shouted out Nathan's name Haley sat straight up as if something had painfully shocked her. She had unfortunately been right about who it was.

"Haley what's wrong?" Peyton asked seriously, sitting up herself and looking over at the guys with the two girls. She hadn't been worried about the guys being faithful, she knew they had just been trying to mess with her and Haley, but there was something in Haley's voice that truly worried her.

Haley glared at the four and said simply, "Hurricane Taylor."

"I hadn't realized how much I missed this town," Jake said in awe as he and Peyton with Jenny in the backseat rode through his hometown. "I mean I missed some of the people, but I thought I didn't miss the town itself," he added in haste.

"You want to go on a driving tour of all you hang-out spots before we hit the hospital?" Peyton asked him while she was driving up the road that took them right to the hospital.

"Prolonging the onset of the gloom?"

"I just want to give you the best first experience back in Tree Hill I possibly can despite the circumstances, that a crime?"

"Alright Peyton, let's go." Jake smiled as Peyton turned roughly right in the direction of Karen's Café where Jake had played his guitar and introduced Jenny. That was the first time Peyton had really become aware of Jake and now she couldn't happily live without him.

"How's my little sister's husband? Or is it ex-husband now? I can't ever keep track of the little rock star anymore. Last time I heard from her she told me to call you, little did she know what I had planned for you." Taylor took a step closer and lowered her voice seductively for the last part.

"Hi Taylor," Nathan said unenthusiastically.

"Now is that any way to greet your one-time, almost twice, lover and one-time sister-in-law?"

Nathan glared and then put a hand under his chin as if he were deep in thought. "Yes, it's a perfect way to greet you."

"Your girlfriend, who I can't get a good luck at with the sun in my eyes, is coming this way. You want jealousy Scott? That's my specialty."

Nathan knew what was coming and tried to spin away, but couldn't quite make it. Taylor threw her arms around Nathan and placed her lips lightly against his. A second later she whispered, "Now for the fun with this girlfriend of yours."

"Uh Nathan," Jake warned uncomfortably.

"Taylor James, how unpleasant to see you," Haley's icy tone rang in Nathan's ears.

Nathan and Taylor turned to see Haley glaring with a confused Peyton standing over her shoulder. Taylor grinned, "So the girlfriend is you! I knew you two would work it out! Now what should I call you little sis? Haley James or Haley Scott?"

"Excuse me," Taylor's brown-haired friend, whose name Nathan had already forgotten, cut in. "Can you please explain for me, and I'm pretty sure Jake and Goldilocks would appreciate it too, what is going on?"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Jamie this is a complicated story, it would take days to explain and years before you would understand it."

Haley interjected, "Don't you think you should be nice to the few friends you have Taylor?"

"I think I should finally be Me and not hide behind my bars, booze, and sparkly rock tour actually."

"Haley," Nathan said quietly, distracting her from her anger at Taylor. "Let's go alright? We're here to make good memories not bad ones. Let's leave Taylor alone, alright?" Nathan raised his voice to its normal level and said to Taylor, "It was good to see you again and I'm honestly glad if you have stopped hiding behind your bars, booze, and choice of guys. Just be you Taylor, it's enough for a lot of people."

Taylor gave Nathan a soft smile. "I knew I always liked you brother. By the way, right back atcha Nathan Scott."

Nathan nodded and took a step backwards to grab Haley's hand. He led her up the beach with her resisting at first before walking with him.

Jake and Peyton said their goodbyes to Jamie and Taylor before following Nathan and Haley up the beach.

"What was that all about?" Haley asked Nathan once they were by their stuff.

"Taylor and I bonded last year when I visited her at the Swinging Donkey and we both decided we needed some change in our lives. I really hope she has, she's got your genes too you know, so there has to be some good in her."

"You have more faith in her than I do," Haley mumbled, laying back down on her towel.

"Taylor isn't bad Hales, I promise."

Haley didn't say anything as childhood memories of Taylor and the memory of discovering who Nathan had first slept with went through her mind.

When Jake and Peyton arrived at their spot, Peyton turned to Jake, "Hey Jake let's run to the Trolley Stop and get some hot dogs."

"Why? Aren't we going to go out with Brooke and Lucas tonight?"

"Jake. Please?" Peyton pleaded, meaning in her eyes.

Jake nodded, finally getting it. "Yeah, hot dogs, they're pretty good. Later guys."

Nathan looked over at Haley lying next to him with her eyes closed and admired her beauty. He loved how the sun reflected off of her. He couldn't help it. Nathan leaned a hand over and gently brushed her face with his hand.

Electricity passed through Haley with just his touch. She didn't show it though, she was still trying to continue the game from earlier.

Nathan smirked. He had noticed Haley's oh-so-slight excitement at his touch and knew he could get her to crack.

He laid down so he was on his side facing her and moved his hand from her face down to her arm and carefully started to rub her arm with the backside of his hand. Haley's eyes opened for a brief second before she promptly closed them again and did her best to ignore Nathan's touch but now he knew she was going to give in to him.

"Hales, you know I'm irresistible," he whispered right next to her face. She made no response. Nathan slowly moved his head in. He wasn't going to kiss her, she was going to kiss him.

Haley waited for his lips. She didn't want to give in and kiss him, but if he kissed her there would be no was she wouldn't kiss him back.

She opened one eye and saw Nathan's face very close to her own. She quickly closed her eye again. A minute later she felt Nathan move so he was on top of her. Yet his lips still did not come.

Haley felt his still-wet-from-the-ocean-chest touch her own and his arms briefly rub up her own. Heat started to work up in Haley. She needed his lips but didn't want to give into him.

Finally, after another minute like that, Haley opened both of her eyes. "Hell with it," she whispered before she placed her lips onto Nathan's smirking ones.

"Turn around and go slow," Jake said seriously when they passed the Rivercourt, I could've sworn I saw something, or someone. Peyton gave Jake a questioning glance, but complied all the same. Jake looked and sure enough, there was a large figure with a mess of dark hair sitting on the bench facing the water.

"I'll be right back Peyton," Jake said as he hopped over the side of the car and quietly walked towards Nathan.

Nathan didn't keep smirking for long. Haley was pulling him too far into their make-out session. He was shocked when he felt her move, a sign she wanted to be on top. All the same, the two rolled over so Haley was on top of Nathan.

Nathan was especially shocked that Haley was so into it since they were on a beach in the middle of the day with lots of people, including Haley's sister, around, most of who were perfectly able to see their extreme PDA. He didn't mind though and pulled Haley tighter to him.

After several minutes of entertainment for the pair Nathan felt the compulsion to slightly pull at Haley's suit. Before he could give in or fight the want however, the pair was interrupted by a slight cough.

"I hate to interrupt this lovefest….again—" Immediately Haley rolled off of Nathan at the sound of Brooke's voice. Once again her face was bright red. "But if you two lovebirds want to get showered, personally I would prefer separately, we're meeting at the Rivercourt in an hour. Remember dress nicely!" Brooke added as she walked away with a cherry wave.

Nathan ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, ordering himself to cool off somehow, but that was easier said than done. The taste of Haley's lips, the feel of her golden hair, her smooth body, were all still fresh to him.

"Why is it always Brooke?" He asked after a moment of silence between the pair.

"Because it's Brooke and she has a talent for coming in at the right moment. Anyway, better Brooke than my Mom right?"

Nathan laughed. He remembered a time when he and Haley had been dating. They had been "studying" up in her room when her mom had come in asking if Nathan had wanted to stay for dinner. That led to an interesting discussion between Haley's parents right outside of Haley's door about what the happy couple might be doing or have done during their long tutor-sessions together.

"Very true," Nathan finally said once he was done laughing.

"Well I guess we should go get ready for whatever Brooke has planned for us. Let's hope it's not a triple wedding, with Brooke Davis you just never know."

Nathan let the grief wash over him. He remembered all he had done that had led up to the moment when Haley had shoved him and would give everything to go back in time so Haley would be alright. Even if that consisted of never talking to her in the tutor-center when Lucas had first joined the team, the day that set the events in motion which would cause everything Nathan had ever known to change for the better.

"It's a beautiful view," A voice said from behind Nathan. A voice he honestly never expected to hear again. Jake Jagielski was back. "You know that saying? The one about how you never appreciate things until they're gone? It can be wrong. Sometimes, even when you're not around something you can still under appreciate it. It isn't until later, when it hits you full force that you realize how little you've appreciated it. Then, you mope about how you wish you could get more time with it, to show it how much you really appreciate it…The problem with that is, you lost whatever time you have left with whatever it is you want to appreciate. Don't waste what time you have left Nathan, you'll end up regretting that most of all."

Without another word, Jake turned and walked back to Peyton's car. He sat and in silence the pair made their way to the hospital. Any chance of lightheartedness was now gone.

Back on the bench, Nathan realized he was tired of moping. He was tired of hiding. He was tired of crying over his mistakes with Daunté, his Dad, Lucas, and most of all with Haley. His moping wasn't going to change anything at all. Haley was still there, even if she didn't show it. It was time for Nathan to treat her better instead of drowning himself in self-pity. Haley would never appreciate a husband who was constantly crying about his mistakes when she had married a man who lived in the present, atoning for his mistakes, not regretting them.

The Nathan Scott that Haley James loved was back.