What's up, everyone? Thank you so much for the awesome reviews. They really do mean more than you know. :) Here is a shout out for the lovely people who gave me lovely feedback:

Caitidid: Hi! Thanks for leaving a great review. Yeah, I'll make it interesting when Haley meets everyone, don't worry. Haha. I think you might be onto something with the whole Haley not wanting to tell everyone thing... and possibly the whole them finding out by accident thing... but I won't tell you for sure because that might ruin it. :) Hm, that's interesting. I never really thought about shocking people that way, but you make a good point. It probably does tell you a lot about a person's character. Well, Brooke, Peyton, Lucas, Jake, Tim, and Mouth will be in the story. I'm not really sure about Rachel. If she is in it, she'll be one of the last characters brought in. Thanks again for the compliments. I hope you know I love you now. :) lol.

HJS-NS-23: Hey, girl. Thanks for reviewing again. I'm glad you love bitchy Haley because it's so much fun writing her. If I can't be a bitch all the time, I can live through her, right? lol. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. :) And giving good feedback. :) :) It makes me happy. :) :) :) And now you probably think I'm a freak for using so many smileys. lol.

Nathanlvr: Hello, awesome person. You are so amazing for praising me. I'm really glad you like the story in both Nathan and Haley's points of view and it was so sweet of you to tell me that it was the first story of that kind that you read and liked. Seriously, it made me feel good. I don't know if you got it, but I e-mailed you the new chapter. Let me know if it didn't work and I can resend it. :) I'm hoping I haven't lost my touch... which probably makes me sound insecure, but we all have our doubts, right:) Anyway, I hope you don't get too bored rereading and thanks for sticking with me.

pingshui: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was deleted off oth central. Maybe it was because I haven't updated in so long... whoops. lol. Just kidding, I really don't know why it was, but I got kind of frustrated with it. :( Well, I'm glad you were able to find it again on here. I sent you the new chapter in a private message on this site, so let me know if you didn't get it for some reason. Thanks for reading my story and loving it. It makes you almost as cool as me. Which is high praise because that's pretty much impossible to do. lol.

Chapter 3:

After an hour in the car with the cocky bastard, I am already clenching the armrests, resisting the urge to strangle him with my bare hands. I look at the clock again just for confirmation. Yes, it really has only been one hour and two minutes. Surely, what I am suffering through is more tortuous even than hell itself. I would rather be eternally damned than be in this car with Nathan Scott for another second.

Suddenly, the annoyingly repetitive, irritatingly loud rap song on the radio station he's picked ends and I am bathed in relief. Does he really think that blaring that crappy music is a turn on? He's worse than Tim. But so much hotter. For the umpteenth time that day, I curse myself for thoughts like these.

This guy is a cocky, arrogant, self centered son of a bitch who doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself; a complete asshole with no real goals in life (nailing hot girls and dunking a ball through a hoop do not count). With awful taste in music. 'You like him,' a small, contradictory voice whispers through my mind. Damn it! Shut up, I tell the little voice.

He glares at me in anger for a few moments. "What the hell is your problem?! I wasn't even talking!" he shouts.

I sigh. Why do I always screw up like this? Seriously, you'd think after one mortifying experience similar to this one, I'd learn my lesson. Apparently, I'm not as quick to catch on as I'd like to think. Damn. It's just one more thing to add to the list of reasons I've been compiling in my free time. The list of reasons why I'm a screwup. Don't look at me like that. I just get bored sometimes.

"Well…" he prompts.

I start, realizing he's asked me a question. Oh yeah. "What do you mean what the hell is my problem?! What the hell is your problem?!"

I can see his hands clenching the steering wheel so hard they go white. Whoops, guess I really pissed him off this time. Might want to reconsider my strategy. Don't want to push him completely over the edge. After all, I think he was hovering on the brink of insanity before he met me anyway. And I'm definitely not helping. He breathes out through his nose, trying to keep a lid on his anger. "You're the one who keeps cussing at me for no reason."

I scoff. "I'm not cussing at you."

He raises a brow. "Really?…"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, really. I'm talking to the voice in my head."

He laughs. Ugh, I'm such a dumbass, maybe I should've just stuck with the whole I was talking to you ordeal. Now, he thinks I'm insane. Just like my grandmother. Shit! What if he thinks it's genetic or something? Now, I've really dug myself into a ditch.

I now have no hope of redeeming myself to him, not that I should have to but whatever, and only wish to finish this trip without further incident. Yeah, like that's gonna happen. This is one screwed up day and I have a feeling the next five months won't be much better. Why does life have to be so unfair? I mean, seriously. Spending my last five months waiting to die with Tim and Nathan. Maybe I should just off myself now. It would save us all a lot of trouble. And it would save me a few migraines.

But I digress.

He turns and grins at me. My heart melts a little at the gesture. Man! Why does he have to be so damn hot? "You're a riot, you know that?"

At first, I'm confused by this, but then realize he's referring to my comment about voices in my head. So he hasn't forgotten yet. Damn. "So I've been told," I mumble, knowing both of us are a little uncomfortable with this new turn in our relationship. It wasn't exactly a compliment, but it was stated in a teasing manner. I liked us better when we were at each other's throats. Well, maybe I'd have liked it even better if I was at his lips... What is wrong with me?!. I just can't shut myself up.

He frowns. "Just trying to be nice."

I roll my eyes, something I seem to be doing a lot of these days. "Yeah, well don't. I don't need another bastard like you screwing me over."

Then, the silence prevails again. What the hell did I do to deserve all this?

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Another thirty minutes passes by and this ride doesn't seem to be getting any better. We haven't spoken since my little outburst and quite frankly, it's freaking me out. He should've been furious; he should've been screaming at me by now. But strangely, he only sits there, driving steadily, lips twitching every now and then, but for the most part settled in what seems like a permanent frown.

I shift in my seat, trying to get comfortable. I turn to him and he's staring straight ahead. This is ridiculous. "You know I can always catch another ride, right?"

He shakes his head. "Your aunt would kill me."

"Hey, I've got an idea. How about we just not go to Tree Hill? We could just you know take a wrong turn somewhere and keep driving wherever we feel like."

He gives me another one of those looks that tells me just how strange he finds me, saying, "Yeah, that sounds appealing and all, but…. no."

"Oh, come on," I persist. "You know you've always wanted to."

He raises a brow and I can see he's not so mad anymore. Or maybe that's wishful thinking. But hell, I'll take it. "Yeah, maybe. Not with you though." Or maybe I won't.

I cross my arms and pout. "Fine, be a bitch. Not like I care."

He just smirks and leaves me to wonder why. Asshole.

I don't think I can take much more of this. This constant bickering thing is really starting to take a toll on my precious wit. But something about this guy just provokes me and I can't help giving it to him straight. It's not in my nature to be a bitch. Well, maybe it is, but not usually this severely. Oh well, he's better than Tim. Tim, there's a good conversation starter. "So, what's Tim like now?" I ask.

He looks confused at my somewhat friendly question and takes his time answering. "Well, I imagine he'd still hit on you given the chance. Hasn't changed that much."

"Is he still all short and scrawny?"

Nathan laughs. "Yeah, I don't think he'll ever really catch up with any of the other guys on the basketball team."

My eyes widen in surprise. "Tim? Basketball? Tim plays basketball? Nah, it can't be true."

He glances at me. "Well, you better get over your shock because you'll probably be dragged to all our games."

"You, I can see playing basketball. But Tim, does he even know which hoop to shoot at?"

Nathan laughs again and I can't help thinking it's not that unpleasant of a sound. Should I really be having these thoughts? I mean, really, I hate guys like this. But my possibly inappropriate thoughts are interrupted by his voice. "He's actually not that bad. I'm better though."

"I could've told you that," I respond and he smiles at me. A genuine smile. When was the last time I made someone smile?

We settle into an awkward silence as we both realize that we were actually kind of, sort of, in our own way, getting along. Damn, this is weird. Neither of us can think of anything to say, so we remain silent, not really understanding what's happening. I don't think we were meant to have a relationship other than that of sparring partners. Somehow, the thought leaves me feeling a little dejected. Wait a minute, no it doesn't. Shit! What the hell am I talking about? I'm perfectly fine with it. Wasn't I just saying earlier that I never want to see him again? Well, that may have been a bit of a lie, but I do think he's an ass.

I feel the car stall and I start, realizing we're in some parking lot. I look around in a daze, confused by my surroundings. I look to him for clarification.

As though he can sense my obvious helplessness (note sarcasm), he decides to enlighten me. "We're at a gas station. Thought we could use a pit stop. You can go inside and get some food or something if you want." I nod and step out of the car, not able to think of any witty responses. He stays outside to pump the gas (somehow, that didn't come out right) while I go inside to look around.

I've just grabbed some chips and a snickers bar and am now moving to get something to drink. Finally deciding on a Dr. Pepper, I pull open the glass door, the frigid air hitting me full in the face, making me shiver. I lean down to grab my drink off the bottom shelf and can literally feel someone burning a hole in my ass. I quickly retrieve my soda and turn to see what perverted creep is checking me out. And of course… it's him. Just when we were finally forming some sort of a friendship.

I roll my eyes at him. "You can't even go five minutes without doing something completely asinine, can you?"

He smirks. "What can I say? It was a good view."

I huff. "Yeah, well, show's over. Keep moving."

He steps closer to me. "What if I don't want to?"

His breath is hot against my skin and I shiver again, thinking of how dangerous it is to be this close to him. And then, I snap. I can't deal with this right now. "Fuck you!" I exclaim, a little louder than I had intended, shoving him roughly away and marching to the counter to pay for my items.

He looks a bit shocked, but then his face tenses and I can practically feel his rage filling up the room. He begins to stomp toward me, but I'm out the door before he reaches it, hurrying toward the car and opening the passenger door. I slide in, angrily slamming it shut behind me.

A minute passes and he hasn't come back yet, so I venture a glance into the shop and there he is, flirting with the girl behind the counter. I'd say she's maybe a year younger than him and she certainly looks flattered by his undoubtedly lame attempts to charm her. He looks out at me and smirks as he leans in closer, purposely bringing his lips too close to hers. He's trying to make me jealous. Well, it's not working, moron!

His hand crawls over the countertop and brushes the girl's fingers. I can see her practically jumping in excitement from the sudden contact. He smirks at me again. I roll my eyes and look away. Suddenly, my eyes land on the ignition. He forgot to take out the keys. I smirk, just as he always does, preparing to execute my sudden, but brilliant plan.

I look back out the window and he's actually looking at the fake blonde behind the counter now, rather than throwing not so discreet looks at me. I slide carefully into his seat and glance back once more into the station. He turns to smirk at me again, but freezes where he stands when he realizes what I'm about to do. He looks panicked.

I smile and wave at him mockingly, then turn the key, revving the engine. Throwing one last smirk in his direction, I roar out of the parking lot. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I can see him running out of the store, but I simply laugh.

I'm finally free. Surely nothing is worse than spending the day with that bastard. I am awash with relief knowing that, for the moment, I am free from him and his enormous ego. And I am ecstatic that I've paid him back for being a complete ass. Revenge is sweet, just like they always say.

And then, barely two minutes from the gas station, the car suddenly slows down. I pull over to the side of the road and it stops completely. Fuck! I get out to examine the damage and notice the hood of the car smoking. I open it carefully and sure enough, it billows out in nauseating fumes.

Yes, revenge is sweet. But karma sucks ass.

Thanks for reading even these not quite amazingly funny chapters yet. I swear I'm almost to the part where it gets better. Just bear with me for a few more days. I'm happy that you guys are liking it so far. Keep it up with the awesome feedback. :) I can be back as early as tomorrow with chapter 4 if I get some reviews. wink, wink Or even if I don't, I guess. I was just trying to motivate you. :)

Love, Ashley