Peyton and Quinn were driving though town looking for Jake. They had already been driving around for close to an hour and there was still no sign of him.
"This is hopeless. He could be halfway home by now." Peyton said sighing as she watched out the window.
"Do you really think he would just leave?" Quinn asked. Peyton shrugged. "Come on Peyton, think. He's your boyfriend. Where would be go to think or be alone?" Quinn asked as Peyton sat up quickly.
"Is there a basketball court around here?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah, just down the street." Quinn answered.
"Go there. I can garentee you, he's there." Peyton said and she was sure of it. "I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner." Peyton said cursing herself.
"We will be there in one minute just take your next right." Quinn directed her. Peyton turned the corner and saw Jake immediately. He was playing basketball alone.
"There he is!" Quinn said as she pointed.
"Oh thank god he's here." Peyton said throwing the car in park quickly. "I'll be right back." Peyton said hoping out of the car. She raced over to the court. "Jake!" Peyton called as Jake turned around. As soon as he saw her he turned and started walking away. "Don't you dare walk away from me!"
"I'm not in the mood to talk right now, Peyton." Jake said as he continued walking but she grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Well I am." Peyton said firmly. "Let's talk about how you opened your big mouth and now Haley checked herself out of the hospital to go find Nathan. She was just in a serious car accident! She doesn't need this stress!" Peyton yelled.
"What are you on her side now?" Jake snapped.
"I'm not on a side Jake." Peyton said quickly. "I can see where you are both coming from. You want to protect her which is great, I do too. But Haley is a big girl she can make her own desicions and she loves him. What if someone told you you couldn't be with me?" Peyton asked staring right at him.
"That's ridiculous no one would say that." Jake said shaking his head. Peyton narrowed her eyes at him.
"Answer the question Jake. What is someone told you, you couldn't date me for some reason?" Peyton asked as Jake stared back at her.
"I'd tell them to go to hell." Jake answered firmly.
"What if that person were Haley?" Peyton asked.
"Haley would never-" Jake started to say but Peyton held up her hand.
"What if she did?" Peyton repeated. "Would you listen?"
"No." Jake said softly.
"My point exactly." Peyton said calmly. "Jake, I love you but your being a real ass right now. Haley needs you. She was just in a terrible car accident, she is still recovering. She shouldn't be out of the hospital fixing things after you couldn't keep your mouth shut.." Peyton then stopped what she was saying when she noticed him staring at her jaw dropped. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Peyton asked.
"Y-you love me?" Jake asked shocked. Peyton's jaw dropped as she realized what she had said. She had just told him she loved him for the first time.
"Yes." Peyton said as Jake grabbed her and pulled her close. He kissed her as passionately as he could. They both pulled away breathless.
"I love you too." Jake said resting his forehead against hers as she smiled.
"Good." Peyton said as she gave him another peck before pulling away. "Can you go talk to our best friend now?" Peyton asked softly but Jake didn't answer. "She loves him. And he loves her."
"Okay." Jake said finally.
"Theres the guy I know and love." Peyton teased smiling as Jake rolled his eyes giving her another kiss.
"Did Haley really check herself out of the hospital?" Jake asked worried.
"Yeah, she went to find Nathan. She sent me to find you." Peyton told him. "They are meeting us at the house." Jake nodded.
"Let's go." Jake said as they walked to the car. Once they stepped into the car Quinn glanced at both of them.
"Everything okay?" She asked cautiously.
"Everythings good." Jake said as Peyton smiled. "I just need to go talk to Haley." Quinn just nodded.
"Okay then let's go."Quinn said as Peyton put the car into drive.
Meanwhile Haley and Nathan were making their way back to the beach house. About halfway back Haley stopped walking and just started taking deep breaths.
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked cautiously.
"I'm just sore and tired." Haley answered wincing slighting.
"Let me carry you." Nathan said picking her up before she got the chance to answer. She winced at the movement but then relaxed. "Better?"
"Yeah." Haley answered kissing his cheek. "Thank you."
"It's my fault anyway." Nathan said seriously.
"Nathan, stop. I don't blame you at all." Haley told him honestly. "Well I blame you for leaving the hospital but not the accident." Nathan just nodded. "Oh and by the way if you ever do that to me again, I'll kill you." Haley teased as they got back to the beach house. Nathan placed her down on the porch as she turned to look at him seriously. "I'm serious, never leave me again."
"I won't." Nathan promised brushed a hair out of her eyes. Haley leaned up and kissed him lightly on the lips before turning to go inside but Nathan stopped her. "You realize your parents are probably going to mad because you checked yourself out right?"
"Oh, I know." Haley said smiling as she opened the door. Haley stepped inside first and immediately found her parents, Nathan's parents, Lucas, Brooke, and Rachel standing there.
"Haley James! What do you think your doing out of the hospital?" Lydia asked crossing her arms over her chest as she stepped closer to her daughter.
"You are suppose to be there for another night, Haley. You were just in a serious accident." Jimmy scolded from the spot next to his wife.
"I'm sorry I just had something important to do." Haley said softly. "I'm fine I swear."
"Haley-" Jimmy started to say but Nathan spoke up.
"Jimmy, I'm sorry it's my fault. Jake and I got into a fight. I left the hospital and wasn't answering my phone." Nathan said looking down. Haley reached out and took his hand giving it a squeeze.
"Nathan, how could you be so irresponsible. Haley should be in bed not chasing after you." Karen said shaking her head.
"I'm sorry mom." Nathan said feeling guilty.
"It's fine. Haley, I want you in bed now. You need to be resting." Lydia said. "Nathan, please help her upstairs." Nathan nodded helping Haley towards the stairs.
"Haley, we aren't done talking about this. After you rest we need to have a talk." Jimmy said as Haley nodded before they continued their way up the stairs. Once they got to Haley's room they closed the door behind them. Nathan helped Haley into bed and gently kissed her forehead.
"You need to rest." Nathan said softly standing back up but Haley grabbed his hand.
"Stay with me." Haley said softly as Nathan nodded crawling into bed next to her. Haley slowly turned to face him. She reached her hand up and placed it on his cheek stroking it gently. "I love you." Haley whispered.
"I love you too." Nathan said taking her hand from his cheek kissing her palm gently.
"I don't ever want to be without you again. This year was miserable." Haley told him honestly.
"I don't want to be without you either." Nathan told her scooting closer to her. "I don't want either of us to run from this anymore. And I certainly don't want to screw this up again. I want to be with you forever. You it for me, Haley James." Nathan said as Haley smiled.
"Your it for me too, Nathan Scott." Haley said as Nathan leaned in and kissed her. They were soon interrupted by a knock on the door. They both pulled away reluctantly. Haley gave him on more peck on the lips before pulling away completely. "Come in." Jake opened the door slowly peeking his head in.
"Hi." He said softly. "Can we talk for a minute?"
"Sure." Haley said sitting up as Nathan went to get up. She grabbed his hand quickly. "You don't have to leave."
"You two should talk." Nathan said kissing her forehead. "I'll come back after I promise." Nathan said as she nodded. Nathan made his way to the door but Jake stepped in front of him. Nathan looked up at him confused.
"I'm sorry for what I said back at the hospital." Jake said pausing. "All I want is for Haley to be happy and you make her happy so I'll back off."
"All I want to do is make her happy." Nathan responded.
"Good, just don't screw it up or I will kick your ass." Jake warned.
"And I'll let you." Nathan answered as Jake moved out of the doorway. Nathan glanced at Haley once more before leaving the room. Once the door was shut Jake turned to look at Haley.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"Your my best friend and if he truly makes you happy I will back off." Jake repeated. "I just really don't want to see you get hurt again."
"Come sit." Haley said motioning for him to sit down on the bed. Jake went over and sat next to her. "He never meant to hurt me in the first place. You may not believe it but I do with everything in me. I've known him for a long time and I can tell when he's lying to me. He's not lying. I think a part of me always knew that but I was just too hurt to listen." Haley told him.
"I'm really sorry about what happened at the hospital." Jake told her as she nodded.
"I forgive you." Haley said with a smile. "And I love you for trying to protect me but you have to trust me on this one."
"I'll try." Jake answered.
"I think you and Nathan could actually be good friends if you gave it a try." Haley told him. Jake laughed.
"Easy match maker." Jake teased. Haley rolled her eyes playfully.
"Get over here and give me a hug." Haley said opening her arms as Jake hugged her lightly not to hurt her.
"I'm always here for you Haley." Jake promised.
"I know you are." Haley said. "And I'm always here for you." Haley said as they pulled away.
"Good to know." Jake said standing up. "Now you should rest." Jake said as Haley nodded. "I'll send Nathan back in because I need to go talk to the girl I love." Jake said grinning as he turned around.
"Stop!" Haley said as her jaw dropped and he turned back around. "What did you say?"
"I need to go see the girl I love." Jake said grinning.
"You finally told Peyton you loved her?" Haley said grinning.
"I did." Jake answered. "Well she said it first. Right before she called me an ass." Jake said laughing.
"Sounds like Peyton." Haley said amused. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, you too." Jake said opening the door.
"Tell Peyton I love her too." Haley called after him as she smiled laying back down. A few minutes later Nathan came back in.
"What are you smiling about?" Nathan asked smiling back at her as he climbed into bed next to her.
"Jake and Peyton said I love you." Haley told him as he nodded. "Don't act so excited." Haley said shoving him playfully.
"Sorry." Nathan said shrugging. "Do you know what's better than that?" Nathan said smirking.
"What?" Haley asked as Nathan leaned closer and placed a kiss on her neck.
"That I love you." Nathan said planting another kiss on her neck. "So much." Haley giggled as he kissed right below her ear.
"I love you more." Haley said giggling as Nathan pulled away shaking his head.
"That is so not possible." Nathan said capturing her lips in a searing kiss. They both pulled away trying to catch their breath.
"Oh yeah?" Haley said playfully as Nathan nodded. "What do you love about me?"
"Your beautiful." Nathan said kissing her forehead. "Your smart." He said kissing her cheek. "Your caring." He said kissing her other cheek. "Your adorable." Nathan said kissing the tip of her nose as she giggled. "And your truly amazing." Nathan said before kissing her lips. Haley smiled into the kiss she couldn't remember being this happy since last summer with him.
"Well I think your amazing too." Haley told him.
"And?" Nathan said smirking.
"Your handsome and sweet." Haley said kissing him. "But most of all I just love you because your you." Haley said as Nathan kissed her again. Haley pulled away first laying on his chest sleepily. She was worn out from the long day she had, especially since she wasn't even suppose to leave the hospital.
"Tired?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah." Haley mumbled.
"You should sleep." Nathan told her.
"Will you stay with me?" Haley asked.
"I'm not going anywhere." Nathan said kissing the top of her head. "Goodnight baby."
"Night." Haley said before drifting off to sleep. Nathan fell asleep not long after her.
Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to update. I have had an extreme case of writers block for all of my stories but don't worry I will update all of them within the week. Please update and let me know what you think.