I know you hate me for sending Nathan away. So I'm updating early to make it up to you:) am I forgiven?

But OMG thanks for all the reviews, I got 8 last chapter, I think thats the most I've ever got for one chapter!:D

I just wanted to make Naley stronger, there relationship has been so easy, they should try long distance and a asshole Dad. I also wanted to show some Charlotte, so I could add new characters. Felix, Vegas and Tim will be returning, and Cooper, Mia and Chase will be added. I don't know how long I'm going to keep them in for, maybe just until Nathan finds a way to come home. I've had a couple of ideas, but if you've got any let me know?

Hope you like it..

Chapter 31

After playing at the river court they all went to Haley's house, as planned. They walked straight in, as usual. They couldn't see anyone, Taylor and Davids cars weren't in the driveway, so they must have gone. And the others are probly packing for tomorrow. They heard a noise in the kitchen, they walked in the doorway and stopped.

Haley is in the kitchen, the cutlery draw is on the breakfast bar. And she's cleaning all the knives, forks, etc.

Which is bad, she only does that when she's got a lot on her mind, or something bad as happened. Which is clear when she's got tears streaming down her face.

Brooke immediatly ran over to her best friend and hugged her, letting her tears soak her favourite sweater.

Lucas got the draw and put everything back in its place and placed it back where it was supposed to be. He's done this before, once when she had a fight with her Mom and another time when her Mom called and canceled on her. He looked at his other ten friends who were stood in the doorway, and mouthed 'Wait in the living room' and pointed to it. They all nodded there heads and waited there. They did really want to know what's up with Haley, she's some of there best friends, to others she's still a close friend, they don't want to see her hurt like she is.

In the kitchen, Brooke lead Haley to the breakfast bar, Haley sat down and Brooke sat next to her, Lucas took a seat across.

''Hales, you've gotta tell us what's up.'' Lucas said, taking hold of one of her hands.

''I can't.'' she whispered.

''Why?'' Brooke asked, rubbing Haley's back.

''I need to tell you all at the same time.'' she said, her voice weak from crying.

Lucas quickly made Haley a glass of water and sat in his previous seat, ''Hales, where's Nathan?''

Haley took a drink of the water. She didn't say anything, she just walked to the living room, a confused Brooke and Lucas following behind. She walked into her big, now crowded, living room and sat down.

Mouth and Millie are sat on the arm chair, and Skills is sat on one of the arms, Bevin on the other. Junk and Fergie are sat on the rug. Peyton, Jake, Anna and Lauren are all squeezed on the two seat chair. They've left the other one empty for Haley, Brooke and Lucas.

Booke and Lucas, and Haley decided to speak. ''Nathan's gone.'' she sighed when it made her heart hurt.

''What do you mean 'gone'?'' Jake asked.

''I mean, he's gone back to Charlotte.'' she said, louder this time.

''Charlotte? Why the hell would he go back to Charlotte?'' Peyton asked angry, she's had to listen all the times when Nathan's moaned about it and now he's just gone back?

''Dan.'' she stared at there shocked faces for a moments before continuing ''He came here...'' then she told them all what happened, even the part when he told her he loved her for the first time. Brooke cried at that part, she could never imagine what it would be like if Lucas moved to Charlotte and she couldn't see him everyday. It would be like a piece of her would be missing, that's probly how Haley feels... maybe Mouths feels like that to when Millie's not here too.

''People always leave.'' Peyton said blankly, she looked at everyone and ran out of the room.

Haley stood up to go after her, but Jake stood up to stop her. ''Don't. I'll go.'' and with that he ran out of the room.

''Do my parent know Hales?'' Lucas asked.

Karen and Kieth walked into there kitchen, the house is empty, as usual. When Nathan moved in they thought it would be more lively, but he's basically moved into Haley's now, they don't see him much. But it's not long until the baby is born, it will be alot livelier then.

Karen put her bag on the coffee table and saw a note. It said To Kieth, Karen and Lucas. on the envelope. She opened it and read the words, she gasped. ''Kieth!'' she shouted.

He ran into the room, ''What is it? Is it the baby?''

''No, come and read this.'' she said, handing him the letter.

He looks at her questioningly and took the letter. It read:

Dear Kieth, Karen and Lucas.

First of all I want to say thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for saving me, thank you for giving me a brother, thank you for letting me live in your beautiful home, most of all thank you for helping me find Haley.

As you know, me, Haley, Lucas, Brooke, Peyton, Jake and Clay went to Haley's sisters wedding today. Well, it didn't exactly go to plan, it didn't exactly 'go' at all. Me and Haley came to her house and Dan was there. He told me if I don't come home then he'll tell the police about the attack back in Charlotte. So I'm probly in the car with him right now.

I'm so sorry, but I can't go to prison. Please don't think I'm not grateful for everything you've done, because I am. More than you could every imagine.

Thank you Kieth for saving me and giving me the happiest months of my life.

Thank you Karen for being like my Mom, I've never really had one of those, so that's been awesome.

And Lucas, thanks for being my best friend. It's been great having a brother. So I'll miss you. I'll miss everyone. And Lucas? Look after Hales, she's been holding it all in but I know she's just as scared as I am. So just make sure she's okay... Thanks big brother.

I'm gonna try and find a way to get away from him, I promise.

I love you guys,

Nathan.

Just when Kieth finished reading Lucas walked in, ''Has he really gone?'' Lucas asked.

''Yeah.'' Karen sighed handing him the note.

He read it and sighed, ''So he just left, just like that.'' Lucas said angryly. His brother has always stood up to people and never backed down, and now he's just walked away, and hurt the people he loves in the process, Lucas just can't understand it.

''Luke, he had no choice. You know what Dan's like.'' Kieth said. He's had to live with Dan Scott for years when he was a kid, over the years Dan has got more and more evil. He just wishes he can get Nathan away from it.

''I'm gonna call him.'' he said getting his phone out of his pocket and walking out of the room.

''Why are you doing this? You didn't care when I moved her, why do you want me back now?'' Nathan asked from the back seat of the car, he wasn't going to sit in the front with him. They've already been in the car for an hour, and all Dan's done is talk about Oak Lake.

Dan opened the glove compartment and pulled out a piece of paper and threw it into the back seat. Nathan grabbed it and saw a news article from a few months ago, about him joining the team and how good he is.

Nathan laughed bitterly, ''So because I got my game back you want me back? Nice Dan, real nice.''

''Nathan I just want what's best for you.'' Dan said with fake concern.

''Tree Hill is what's best for me!'' he shouted, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he got it out and looked at the screen. Lucas. He smiled and pressed Talk. ''Hey big brother.'' he saw Dan flinch, which made him smile. He loves paying him back for what he's doing.

''Hey, I can't believe you're gone.''

''Me niether, did you get the note?''

''Yeah, and I'll look after her, I have been doing for the past 12 years.'' Lucas laughed.

''I know, I just want her to be okay. Have you spoke to her?''

''She was the one that told us, we went 'round to Haley's and she was rearranging the cutlery draw.''

''That bad?'' Nathan sighed. He's seen her like that to, she'd just had a fight with her Mom over the phone and he walked in the kitchen and she was cleaning forks while crying.

''Yeah.'' Lucas sighed, ''You're gonna come back right?''

''I'm gonna try.''

''Well.. good luck. I'll call you tomorrow, bye little brother.''

''See you.'' he said just before Lucas hung up.

The car was silent for a good ten minutes before Dan decided to speak. ''So how did you get on the team anyway?''

''Lucas got me a try out.'' he said, obviously not wanting to talk to him.

''And they let you on the team?'' Dan laughed shocked. ''You were crap when you left Charlotte.''

''Well, I got my game back.'' he said irritated.

''Why the mood son? Is it because of that girl? Don't worry, there's plently more girls in Charlotte.''

Nathan sat up, ''I don't want any other girl, and I don't need one. We're still together, I'm not losing her because of you.'' he shouted.

''Okay.'' he snorted ''I bet she's in bed with some loser right now.''

''Don't talk about her like that!'' Nathan bellowed.

''Or what, you gonna put me in hospital again?'' he challenged.

''No.'' Nathan muttered, he wasn't going to do that, as much as he wanted to right now, he couldn't dissapoint Haley like that.

''That's what I thought.'' he said smugly.

Jake found Peyton at the rivercourt. She's sat on the bench with her sketch book, drawing aggressively. He sat down next to her, she didn't even notice him. She just kept drawing, she took a minute to look at it, that's when she noticed Jake was sat next to her.

She hit him on the sholdour, ''Jeez Jake! You scared me!''

Jake lifted his arms up in surrender, ''I'm sorry.''

''What are you doing here?''

''You ran off so fast Peyt, you okay?'' he asked wrapping his arm around her waist.

''I moved to Tree Hill for him you know? Well, it wasn't just for him but he was one of the main reasons.'' she admitted.

''Why else did you move here?''

''Ellie.'' she said. She told Jake about Ellie last week. Ellie had been contacting her and trying to talk to her, she even came to Nathan's house one day when Peyton was there. Peyton couldn't tell the police because Ellie is her real mom. She's been trying to get away from her, but Ellie follows her all the time.

''Is that all?'' he asked, kissing the top on her head.

''No. I've never liked Charlotte, I've always wanted to live in a small town. And my Dad came here once and told me about it. So when Nathan said he was moving I asked my Dad if we could too. He of course said yes, and here we are. I just hate how me and Nathan haven't been as close here, and now we can't have a chance to get close again.'' she said, quickly wiping a tear.

''He said to Haley that he's going to try and find a way to come back.'' Jake said, trying to make her feel better. He's never really had any close friends until he came to Tree Hill, he kind of kept to himself. He doesn't know what it's like to have a friend for so long, like Haley, Lucas and Brooke or Peyton and Nathan.

''But how? He and I both know what Dan Scott is like, he's not going to leave anything shifty around for Nathan to find. I just have a horrible feeling that he's not coming back. And I didn't even get to say goodbye.'' she sighed, trying to hold her tears.

Jake knew she was trying so hard not to cry, he's not going to let her just hold it in. She dropped her sketchbook and he quickly pulled her into a hug, letting her finally cry.

''Woop! Beat you again!'' Quinn cheered.

They've been playing NBA Live for an hour, Clay let Quinn win at first but then she started showing off. So he started playing his best... and he still lost. He will not stop playing until he beats her, so they'll probly still be playing until midnight.

''I let you win.'' he lied.

''Why don't you stop 'letting me win' then and stop playing like a girl.'' she teased using air quotes.

''Fine, but when I win you have to stop teasing me.''

''Fine, but when I win you have to say 'Quinn is the NBA Live champion and no one can beat her. EVER.'.'' she said childishly.

''Okay, okay.'' he chuckled.

''Game on, loser.'' she challenged, the then stuck her tongue out at him, causing him to laugh.

''Oh, it's on.'' he said, starting a new game.

Lydia James walked into her house, she'd just nine teenagers coming out of her driveway, she recognised Brooke, no one else. She felt so bad that she doesn't even know Haley's friends anymore. She's heard Haley's friends talking the other day, but she was so busy working she couldn't even meet them. What kind of mother does that make her?

She walked into her living room and saw her daughter sat on the sofa, her chin resting on her kness, her arms are wrapped around them. Her eyes are red and puffy like she's been crying. Haley's not even noticed her, she's just staring at the T.V. which isn't even on.

''Haley-Bop what's the matter?'' Lydia asked concerned, sitting next to her daughter.

''Nathan had to move back to Charlotte, I wont beable to see him everyday.'' she said motionless.

Lydia pulled Haley into a hug, ''Oh, Haley-Bop.'' she sighed.

Haley didn't even move. When she did, she wasn't hugging back, she was pushing her away. ''No! You never liked him, don't try and comfort me.'' she shouted. Lydia looked at her shocked, Haley then quickly ran up the stairs.

Lydia leaned back against the couch and quickly wiped the tear from her eye.

Nathan finally arrived in Charlotte with Dan, he got his bags out of the car and walked through the front door. The house is a mess, there's pizza boxes and beer cans scattered across the floor. Nathan wont be spending much time here now, not that he was planning to anyway.

''I phoned the school, you can start again tomorrow.'' Dan said grabbing a beer from the fridge.

Nathan ignored him and walked straight to the stairs, he just had to spend almost four hours with his Dad, he doesn't want to spend any more. ''Welcome home son!'' Dan shouted.

Nathan sighed, home. This place isn't home, his home is miles away in Tree Hill, with Haley.

Sorry for the shorter chapter.

I wont beable to update this week, I'm going on holiday. I will try my hardest to update. So please dont give up on the story. They'll be some new characters in the next chapter;). I probly will beable to update, I'm bringing my laptop but I don't know if I'll get internet connection.

Please review!