So because you guys are amazing and left me the SWEETEST reviews, I decided to update one last time before I go off to Bermuda. I would love to try and update one last time, but I have a lot to do in preparation for the trip, so no promises. Sunday is my Jana Kramer concert which I am STOKED for! So I may or may not update Saturday. I want to because I LOVE writing this story. It's SO much fun, and you guys are so amazing, and you keep me really inspired so thank you!

Also, those who are reading my other fic, Give Your Heart a Break, I apologize for not updating in a while, but because my last chapter got deleted I decided to take a small break from it. I promise you I will finish it, I just haven't had time or inspiration :( I will definitely update when I get back from Vacation, because I just bought a new notebook so I will probably rewrite it, and then type it when I come home. Anyway, don't loose faith because I will update, but as of right now I'm focusing on I Never Told You because the ideas are coming quicker to me, and I love it. Lol, so thanks for reading. You're the best! I can't thank you enough for all the reviews.

LET'S KEEP NALEY ALIVE (ALWAYS AND FOREVER)

~Jill

Another A/N will be at the end!

Nathan's bright blue eyes were boring into Haley's doe like eyes and she was starring intensely back at him, but they were interrupted when the sound of an oven beeper went off.

"Oh! Dinner's ready!" Brooke cheered.

Haley blushed, realizing she was still looking at Nathan, and quickly looked away. "Do you need any help?" She asked Brooke.

"Um, no thanks, I'll make Broody do it." She joked.

Lucas playfully scoffed, "Are you kidding me?"

"We're getting married buddy, get used to it." Brooke said as she stuck her tongue out.

Nathan watched his cousin and his fiance interact and chuckled, "It's not too late to back out, you know." He joked to Lucas.

"Don't even think about it." Brooke warned.

"Never." Lucas promised, as he hugged Brooke from behind.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "You're disgusting."

Haley couldn't help but smile at the couple. She was happy that they found each other, she only wished she could have what they had. She did once... but she wouldn't go down that road again.

"I think they're cute." Haley gushed.

"Of course you do." Nathan mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Haley asked testily.

"You like romance and shit. I don't." Nathan grumbled.

"Why?" Haley asked as she helped Lucas set the table.

"Yeah why, Nate?" Brooke asked as she quirked an eyebrow.

Nathan crossed his arms over his chest, "I think you know."

Haley bit her lip, "I don't."

Nathan stared into Haley's deep brown eyes, and he suddenly remembered how he felt when she told him to leave after he told her he loved her on the last day of vacation.

"I don't believe in love." He said simply.

Haley's heart ached in her chest, knowing she was the reason for that.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, you were a great boyfriend to Haley. You really surprised us on how romantic you actually could be. Remember how romantic you were the night before you left to go to Duke-?" Brooke gushed."

Haley knocked Nathan's cabin door, and took a deep breath. This would be the last time she would ever knock on that door. She quickly pushed those thoughts out of her head. Tonight was her and Nathan's last night, but she promised herself she wasn't going to cry. She was going to enjoy the time as much as possible. Lucas and Jake went to Haley, Brooke and Peyton's cabin, so that Nathan and Haley could have their alone time. The six of them spent the entire day at the beach, but now Nathan wanted Haley all to himself.

Nathan took a deep breath, and looked around the cabin to make sure everything was set up. When he was happy, he quickly walked over to the door and opened it. Haley was standing in the door way, looking beautiful as ever. She never failed to take his breath away. She was wearing a yellow skirt that had bright pink and blue flowers on it, with a navy blue tank top.

Nathan didn't waste any time, and he quickly bent down and captured Haley's lips in a heated kiss. After about a minute of kissing, Haley pulled away and giggled.

'What was that for?" She asked shyly.

Nathan smirked, "Do I need a reason to kiss my sexy ass girlfriend?"

Haley pretended to think about it, "Nope!" She replied, and jumped up to kiss Nathan again. She pulled away and blatantly checked him out. "You're looking exceptionally handsome." She smiled.

"Don't I always?" Nathan joked.

Haley playfully rolled his eyes, "You're so cocky!"

Nathan shrugged, "Don't act like you don't like it."

"I guess I do." Haley joked.

"So are you hungry?" Nathan asked as he led Haley through the cabin.

"Yeah, I'm starving!" She admitted, and followed Nathan out to the back patio. When they walked out, Haley grew speechless. "Nathan, this is beautiful!" She gushed.

The back of the cabin, had a small balcony that overlooked the beach and Nathan set up a small round table with chairs. On the table, was a black table cloth, two candles, a glass of wine, and a bunch of on the table was a small radio that was playing the song "Carolina" by Parmalee.

Nathan shrugged, "It's just a little something."

Haley wrapped her arms around Nathan's torso, "It's perfect."

"Okay, well let's eat." Nathan said as he held the chair out for Haley, and pecked a sweet kiss on her lips.

"Thank you Nathan." She said quietly as he took a seat across from her.

"For what?" He asked.

"Everything. This entire summer. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. You make me the happiest and luckiest girl alive." She said as she began to get choked up.

Nathan smiled sadly, "Hey, don't cry, baby. We still have all night."

Haley bit her lip. "I know, I'm sorry, it's just so hard. I'm going to miss you more than you'll ever know."

Nathan nodded in agreement. "I know, I know. I promise we're going to make it work though, okay?"

"Nathan- do you really think we can? I'm going to be in California-"

Nathan swiftly leaned across the table and interrupted Haley with a kiss. When he pulled away, he grabbed her hand and slowly ran his thumb across her smooth skin. "Listen to me Haley. We are going to make this work, I promise you. Right now, we aren't going to talk about it. We're going to pretend that this night will never end-"

"But it will-"

Nathan gave her a stern look, "Hales, please just- just do this for me, okay? Don't think about tomorrow. Let's live in the moment. Right now, okay? I'm here, and so are you, so let's enjoy it." He advised.

Haley wiped the small tear from her cheek, and smiled. "Okay."

"Good, now eat up. I made this just for you." Nathan smirked.

Haley lifted up the silver plate cover that was over her dish, and a hot steaming bowl of mac n cheese was revealed. She looked across at Nathan and smiled, "You made this for me?"

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, and I don't cook for just anybody Miss. James, so consider yourself lucky"

Haley let out a loud giggle, "I am the luckiest girl alive."

"And I'm the luckiest bastard alive." Nathan smiled and fed a forkful of mac n cheese to Haley.

Haley giggled and happily opened her mouth so that Nathan could feed her. She let out a slight moan, because the mac n cheese was delicious.

"So good babe!" Haley moaned.

Nathan smirked, "You think so? I usually suck at cooking." He joked.

"No, this is great!" She moaned again.

Nathan shifted in his seat as he heard Haley practically having food sex.

Haley noticed Nathan's shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "What's wrong?" She asked.

Nathan gulped, "Uh would it be weird if I said you were turning me on right now?" He laughed nervously.

Haley blushed, "I don't know, why?"

"Well you always turn me on so..." Nathan smirked, causing Haley to roll her eyes.

"Do you ever not think about sex?" She asked.

Nathan chuckled, "It's kind of hard when you're my girlfriend. Literally and figuratively." He smirked.

Haley blushed and laughed loudly, "Ugh! You're a perve!" She joked.

"You won't be saying that later!" Nathan said and laughed at Haley's crimson red cheeks as he poured him and Haley a glass of wine. "Cheers!" He said as he lifted his glass. "To always and forever."

Haley smiled blissfully, "To always and forever."

"Dammit Brooke! I don't want to talk about the past anymore. I'm done." Nathan shouted angrily as he banged his fist against the table.

Haley shut her eyes, and took a deep breath. She had no idea what was happening. One minute she and Nathan were reminiscing on their past, and they were acting like their old selves. Then all of a sudden he started freaking out and getting mad about it.

"Okay, um let's eat." Lucas chimed in, and everyone quickly gathered around the table.

To say it was awkward was an understatement. Nathan was eerily quiet, and wouldn't look at Haley at all.

Lucas could sense the awkward/sexual tension in the air, and quickly cleared his throat. "So, this meal is really great." He smiled.

"Yeah, it is. Great job Brooke." Haley complimented.

"Thanks." Brooke smiled cheekily. "What do you think, Nate?"

"It's fine." Nathan mumbled bitterly as he shoveled food onto his fork. Haley took a long chug of her wine. She very rarely drank, but when Nathan was around her and acting like this- she needed as much alcohol as possible.

"So, Haley. How's work going?" Lucas quickly asked.

Haley smiled, and put her wine glass down. "It's great. I'm sad it's almost over though-"

Nathan's interest suddenly peaked, and he looked up from his meal. "What do you do for a living? Model?" He asked seriously.

Haley was shocked. Mainly because Nathan was speaking to her, and also because he thought she could be a model. "Um no, I'm a high school teacher." She admitted shyly.

"Oh." Nathan wanted to punch himself. He wished he stayed quiet. "That's cool."

Haley frowned. She told him she was going to Stanford to study education, and she dreamed of teaching- but she should have known better- obviously he wouldn't remember. After all, it was five years ago.

"That's right, you went to Stanford to become a teacher." He said as if he read her mind. "I thought you were a model, because- never mind." He said quickly.

"Because you think Haley's hot?" Brooke asked bluntly.

Haley's jaw dropped, "Brooke!"

Nathan couldn't help but laugh, "Actually yeah, that's why."

Haley almost blushed, but she quickly caught herself. On the inside she was flattered, but it was also mixed with annoyance.

"You know Nathan, not everyone who is good looking is a model!" Haley accused.

Nathan furrowed his brow. "I just complimented you. A simple 'Thank you' would suffice." He said in a harsher tone than he meant to.

Haley's eyes widened, "Well I'm sorry that I'm not a model. Those are your standards now, right? You only screw models? I guess I don't have to worry about us getting back together, because you know- I'm not a model." She ranted.

Nathan tried his best to stifle a laugh because he knew if he did laugh, Haley would get more annoyed. He wasn't going to lie- a pissed off Haley, was a hot Haley. Actually scratch that, to Nathan, Haley was always hot.

"Not just models." Nathan smirked. "I also screw actresses and singers. I don't think I've ever had sex with a teacher though- but I'd be up for that. It sounds hot." He said to egg her on.

Haley crossed her arms over he chest, and she felt her blood boiling with rage. "You know, I was actually starting to think you weren't some ass hole that the media portrayed you to be, but I guess you just proved me wrong!" Haley shouted as she jumped up from her chair, and stormed out of the dining room.

Lucas and Brooke stared at each other, and Nathan gulped.

"Why did you just say that?" Brooke asked Nathan.

"I-I don't know. I was just kidding around-" He stuttered.

"Nice move, jack ass." Lucas glared at his cousin.

Brooke pursed her lips together, and rubbed her temples. "I actually thought you guys would be able to act like mature adults, and get along for once, but I guess not." She huffed, and walked away to go and find Haley.

Haley was sitting on the steps outside of Brooke and Lucas's house, with her arms crossed across her chest, and a silent tear rolling down her cheek. She heard the door open, but didn't turn around.

"Are you okay buddy?" Brooke asked as she took a seat next to Haley on the step.

Haley furiously wiped her tear away, and sighed. "I tried my best to hold myself together, but I just couldn't-"

Brooke put her hand on Haley's back and slowly rubbed it. "Hey- shh. It's okay."

"God, he's such an ass!" Haley seethed.

"I know, he was totally out of line, but Luke's talking to him now."

Haley sighed again, "I don't even know what happened. We were fine when we were talking about that Katy Perry song, and then I asked him why he didn't believe in love, and he freaked out!"

Brooke frowned as she continued to rub her friends back. "Nathan's just going through a rough time right now. It's hard for him to see you again-"

"Oh and it's not hard for me?" Haley snapped.

"No, I know that it's hard for you too, but with Nathan, he just doesn't know how to handle it-"

Haley rolled her eyes, "Are you seriously sticking up for him?"

Brooke let out a heavy sigh, "No, I'm just trying to shed a little light on the topic." She explained.

Haley let out a small laugh.

"Do you want my honest opinion?" Brooke asked, and Haley nodded. "I know you were upset with what Nathan said, but I'm pretty sure that was his way of flirting with you."

Haley's eyes widened and she craned her neck to look at Brooke better. She stared at her as if she had ten heads. "Are you serious?" Haley asked.

Brooke nodded, "Yeah- look Nathan can be an ass, but we both know he's a really great guy, he's just having a hard time around you. He doesn't know how to act."

"How do you know?" Haley asked lightly.

"Well I've seen him attempt to flirt with girls, and he always says something crude. The only reason why he acts like some play boy, is because he's worried to let his walls down again. Nathan's really guarded, but when he's around you, I can tell those walls come down. He's just worried about being heart broken again."

Haley scoffed, "Right, well he didn't seem to be heart broken when I saw him at Duke with that slut, three months after we broke up!"

Brooke bit her lip, because she knew the truth behind that story, but she didn't want to be the one to tell Haley.

"What?" Haley asked after she noticed Brooke acting abnormally quiet. "Is there something you know, that I don't?"

Brooke smiled, "Nope."

"Brooke!" Haley whined. "What do you know?"

"You're going to have to talk to Nathan about it. It's not my place to tell you." Brooke said as she got up and extended a hand towards Haley to help her up.

Haley let out a huff, but graciously accepted Brooke's hand. "Okay, well thanks anyway." She smiled.

"No problem, now come on and let's go back inside."

"Do you know how much of an ass you are?" Lucas retorted as he paced around the kitchen.

Nathan placed his head in his hands and sighed, "Yeah, I know Luke. You don't have to keep reminding me!"

"Tonight was supposed to be a night to forget about the past, and move on." Lucas advised. "I thought you were going to try and be friends?"

Nathan let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I know- but I told you it wouldn't work. There's too much history, and I can't forget it."

"Wouldn't you rather be friends with Haley, then not have her in your life at all?" Lucas asked and Nathan nodded,

"Of course I want her in my life, it's just hard seeing her after all those years. She still looks beautiful, and I can't help but feel attracted to her. Then every time I see her smile, I get some weird feeling in my stomach- and dammit Luke I'm acting like a freaking girl!"

Lucas laughed as he listened to his cousin rant about Haley. "It's fine man, but seriously what are you going to do? You can't act like a jerk around her."

"I don't know how to act!" Nathan shouted. "Part of me wants to be a dick so I can push her away, but then I remember how much my life sucked with out her these past five years, and I realize that I want her in my life again. See? I'm so conflicted!"

"Maybe in order to move on, you both need to let go of the past, just be friends, and go from there." Lucas suggested.

"Yeah, I guess." Nathan shrugged. "I might bring a date to your wedding though."

"What?" Lucas asked. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"Because it'll help me move on. If Haley and I both go alone, something will probably happen- like I'll be stupid and kiss her again-"

"When did you kiss her?" Lucas asked with wide eyes.

"That doesn't matter, but now I need to find a date." Nathan said quickly.

"That's a stupid idea." Lucas said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why?"

"Because you know you still like Haley, so why are you even going to fight those feelings?"

Nathan rubbed his temples and sighed deeply. "That's just the thing, Lucas. I don't want to have these feelings anymore. I need to let go, but something is holding me back, and I don't know why!"

"So what are you going to do?" Lucas pressed.

"I don't know! I still want to be friends with her though, because I definitely realized I can't live with out her." Nathan stated.

"Well news flash Nathan- if you want to just be friends with a girl, don't disrespect her and say you want to screw her." Lucas advised.

Nathan let out a small chuckle. "What if it's true?"

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Well then clearly you don't want to be 'just friends'." He muttered.

"Yeah I know but I really don't know what to do. I feel bad that I said those things to Haley, I guess it was my lame attempt to flirt, just to see what she would do."

Lucas dragged his hand over his face, "So then why are you bringing a date to the wedding? And who are you going to bring?"

Nathan slumped his shoulders and took a drink of his beer. "Honestly I would love to have asked Haley to be my date, but we all know that it can't and won't happen, so I might bring this chick I met last night at my hotel."

"Oh yeah? What's she like?" Lucas asked.

"Her name is Alex Dupre, and she's in town to promote her CD. I think she's some country singer, but we talked for a little while and she's pretty chill." Nathan shrugged. "She's hot, too." He smirked.

"Alex Dupre? I've heard of that name before." Lucas said as he tried to think where he heard of her.

"Maybe on the radio?" Nathan asked.

Lucas thought harder, "No, no, that's not it."

"Then what is it?" Nathan pressed.

"I don't know, but I think she's trouble Nate." Lucas warned.

"You don't even know her." Nathan protested.

"I've heard her name before, and she probably slept with every guy in Tree Hill. I'm telling you, she's no good. She's a drama queen, and Brooke and I don't need drama at the wedding, so please don't bring her!" Lucas advised.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "You just want me to get back together with Hales-"

"Yeah, I do. I really think that you and Haley are made for each other."

Nathan let out a deep sigh, "I don't know, but in order for me to move on one hundred percent, I'm going to have to bring a date."

Lucas chuckled, "Let's be realistic. Do you really think you have a future with this Alex girl, or are you just going to bring her to the wedding, screw her, and not talk to her ever again?"

Nathan groaned and flung his head back in his seat, "You know the answer to that Lucas. Haley is the only girl I could ever picture myself with in the future."

"Exactly, so why don't you just ask Haley to be your date?"

"Because it'll ruin the whole 'friendship' thing." Nathan replied.

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Seriously? You're actually going to try and just be friends?"

"I'm trying man! It's not my fault I still have feelings for her-"

"Nathan, it was five years ago, how do you still have feeling for her?"

"I don't know, but I do. They're obviously not as strong as they used to be, but no matter how much I try to hate her, I can't!" Nathan said in an agitated tone.

Lucas sighed, "Well do you really think bringing a date to the wedding is going to fix how you feel? No offence Nate, but you've been screwing random sluts for four years now, and you still aren't over Haley."

Nathan huffed, "I know Luke, I thought I was over her, I really did. I kept telling myself that I was, and the only reason why I sleep with those girls are because I'm afraid to put my heart on the line again." Nathan admitted, "Plus, no one will ever be good as Haley. That's why I'm afraid to open up. Even if I do meet a great girl, I always end up comparing her to Haley."

"Yeah, that really sounds like you got over her." Lucas said sarcastically, making Nathan roll his eyes.

"I thought I did! When I saw her again, all those feelings came back, and I'm scared Lucas! I don't want to risk it all again. I spent five years trying to get over her, and the second I saw her face, I fell for her again!"

Before Lucas could reply, Haley and Brooke walked back in to the kitchen pretending not to have heard the entire conversation, which because of Brooke- Haley did hear the entire conversation. She didn't know how to feel about it. Nathan's words kept mulling over in her brain, and she had to take time to process what he was saying.

Lucas's head snapped up and watched Brooke and Haley enter, but Nathan still had no idea, because his back was towards them.

Nathan stopped talking when he noticed Lucas starring at him and waving his hand under his neck to motion for him to stop talking. "What are you doing dude?" Nathan laughed, but stopped when he turned around and saw Haley starring at him. Nathan quickly cleared his throat.

"Um, so yeah, I was just telling Lucas how I might bring a date to the wedding." He explained quickly.

Haley felt her heart sink to her stomach. She wanted to puke. "Oh." Was all she could bring her self to say.

"I mean if that's okay with you-" Nathan began.

Haley's jaw instantly clenched, "We aren't together anymore Nathan. I don't care who you are with, or who you bring to the god damn wedding!" She shouted. Leave it to Nathan to make her heart flutter one second, and then the next she wanted to punch him in the face. Haley couldn't control her raging emotions. She had so much on her mind, and it was killing her that Nathan was going to bring some random slut to the wedding. She knew she had to hold on to her dignity, and pretend like she didn't care, even though she cared so much about it. The only thing she could do about it, was lie.

"In fact. I'm bringing a date too." She lied, and Brooke looked at her as she furrowed her eyebrows.

Nathan only said he was going to bring a date to the wedding just to see how Haley would react. If she seemed upset, he was going to ask her to be his date, but she obviously didn't care, which made his heart shatter. Haley had no intention to get back together with him (or so it seemed) and he really wished he just shut his mouth the entire night. The fact that she was bringing a date, completely killed him.

"Oh, well, that's good. I'm happy for you." Nathan said smugly.

Haley sighed, and mentally slapped herself.

"All I need to do now, is find a date, and get over Nathan." She thought.

A/N: Okay so about the flashback; I know it was short, and you probably wanted more, and there will be. I did that on purpose, because it was their last night, I didn't want to give everything away in that one scene, because I still have A LOT to write! I'm just getting started. Haha, and BTW because this is rated T and I'm only 16, I won't be writing any full blown 'smut' because I don't know how to and if I attempted, it would suck and ruin the story, lol, so I'm sorry if I disappointed anyone! I will go in minor detail about their first time though, so don't worry! And I'm sorry that the flashbacks are really random and confusing, but it was the only way to do it. It's kind of like a two in one story, and it's the easiest way to write it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM me! Also, if you have ANY comments, questions, concerns, or something you'd like me to include, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I would love to hear what you guys want me to include. For example, some people ask me to include certain songs; I will definitely do that, so let me know. Thanks for reading. I can't thank you enough. I love writing, and knowing that people actually read and enjoy my work makes me SO HAPPY! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Love youuuu!

Leave me love ;)