A/N: First off thank you for all the reviews! Secondly, I rewrote this Chapter like three times, I really needed to set a lot up in this Chapter. So it focuses on one theme but it is important to the story that I did it like that.

I know it's frustrating that I haven't revealed much yet but after this chapter a lot of what happened in this past comes to light.

As always thank you for the reviews and please keep reviewing! Flashbacks are in italics.

Chapter 5: 22 & 23

Brooke lay on her stomach as Julian traced his fingers up and down her back. She sighed contently. She felt Julian shift a bit and then his hands went to her sides and stilled. He placed a kiss on her neck.

'Why haven't I noticed this before?' He asked a moment later, and shifted so Brooke could look up at him.

'Mmmm?' she asked and then watched as Julian's one hand move backed over to her side and began tracing the number 22. Brooke paled and sat up. She looked down at the little black 22 that was tattooed on the side of her ribcage, just in line with her breast.

'Its normally covered by my clothes, my bra, my arm...' Brooke began to mumble.

'Why 22?' She faltered and closed he eyes for a second, willing the memories away.

'It's just something Haley and I did.'

'Haley has a tattoo?' Brooke nodded. She jumped out of bed. 'You did this with Haley?' She nodded again. 'This has to be an interesting story.' Brooke smiled, it was kinda interesting.

"Oh no, Brooke.' Haley groaned and tried to pull her hand back.

'Oh come on, it's our last year-'

'That doesn't mean we should do this!'

'You lost the bet!' Haley opened her mouth and then closed it. She had lost the bet.

'Fine. But I'm not getting like a butterfly or Chinese character.' Brooke huffed.

'Well, what do you suggest then?' Brooke asked and watched as Haley broke out into a wide grin.

'It was actually Haley's idea on what we got.'

'Does she have a number as well?'

'Yeah.' Brooke shifted uncomfortably knowing what the next question would be.

'Why the numbers?' And there it was. The question Brooke-couldn't- didn't know how to answer.

'Well, come now Baker,' Brooke put on the best smile she could muster. 'I'm not going to just tell you all my secrets. You at least have to buy a girl dinner.' She winked at him and then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. 'I'm starving. I'm going to go get ready.' She watched Julian give her a curious look and then nod, she walked off into the bathroom. Closed the door and leaned against it. Closing her eyes, she lifted her hand and let her fingers trace over the 22. She breathed deeply and dropped her hand, that was a conversation for a different day about a different time.

Next Day

Haley stared at the book she held in her hands and absentmindedly kept flipping the book over and over. She walked on, not really paying attention to any of her surroundings. So, when she heard her name being yelled out she started and dropped her book. She looked in the direction of the yelling and saw Julian waving at her and just behind him was Brooke and Nathan. She hesitated, turned back to pick her book up, and then steadily made her way over to them.

'Hey,' Haley said when she reached them. Haley's eyes scanned the three of them, Brooke and Julian were smiling at her whereas Nathan was avoiding looking at her. She gave a quiet sigh and turned her focus back to Brooke and Julian. 'What's up?'

'Well, you know there is game on this weekend?' Brooke started excitedly, Haley nodded her response. 'Well, it's also Julian's birthday.'

'Oh?' Haley responded and turned to look at Julian, he was now standing next to Brooke and she was leaning into him slightly. Haley hadn't even registered when that had moved into that position.

'Yeah, anyway the match is in the morning, and after the game we are going to head off to this lake I know about for some birthday celebrations.' Haley scrunched her eyebrows and was about to speak when Brooke interrupted her.

'We aren't really giving you an option. You are coming with. We're watching Nathan play and then heading out for the day.' Brooke stated and folded her arms.

'Who exactly is going?' Haley questioned and kept looking at each of them in turn. Nathan had still not said a word and he wasn't really looking at anything it seemed.

'Just us,' Julian finally answered. Haley looked incredulously at him and then Brooke; she gave a small laugh.

'Haley,' Brooke began to reprimand. 'You're coming. Ignore him.' She said pointing to Nathan who finally looked up and over at Brooke. 'So, we'll see you at the game and then head out together afterwards?' Haley stared Brooke down and then she looked over at Julian-this boy that she barely knew but who had been nothing but nice to her and who Brooke seemed to genuinely like. He hadn't even questioned her about well…anything. The situation was oddly reminiscent for Haley. She sighed, resigning herself to the weekend plans.

'Sure. I'd be happy to be there for the birthday celebrations. But I won't be at the game.' At her words Nathan finally looked over at her, Haley could feel his eyes on her. She didn't turn to him, she stayed focused on Julian and Brooke.

'The game is super early, Haley. Surely you can make it.' Brooke sized Haley up watching her every movement. She begun to play with the book again.

'I just,' Haley paused and looked down. 'I just can't make the game but I will meet up with you afterwards.' She finished speaking and couldn't help it, she looked over at Nathan- he had his head cocked to the side and was staring at her curiously.

'Do you have plans in the morning?' Nathan finally spoke and his words weren't really a simple question they were a challenge. Haley inhaled sharply.

'Yeah, I do.' she replied calmly- her tone was unnaturally even. 'But I'll definitely be there for your birthday celebration, Julian.' She took a step back with her last words, smiled once more at Brooke and Julian and then looked back at Nathan. His eyebrows were furrowed, arms folded and he was clearly studying her. She bit her lip. 'I have to go.' She didn't wait for any of them to protest and simply turned on her heels and left.

Nathan watched Haley walk away and as soon as she was out of earshot he turned towards Brooke.

'Haley freaked out there when we pushed her about the game,' Nathan stated. He knew that tone of voice Haley had used when he questioned her reasons for not going to the game. It was the same voice she had used whenever she freaked out, even when she was a kid when something bothered her, her voice changed into this unnaturally calm tone. A part of Nathan hated that he could still read her so well, that he still knew exactly what that tone of voice had meant.

'Yeah,' Brooke was still watching Haley go. 'Yeah, she did.' She finally added turning to look at Nathan. Julian kept glancing between the two of them.

'You don't think? That she hasn't-' Nathan stopped short, processing his own words. Processing the possibility of what he was thinking.

'I don't know.' Brooke's throat was suddenly very dry. She understood the implication behind Nathan's words.

'I don't exactly know what's going on here,' Julian motioned at Brooke and then Nathan. 'But I think you're over thinking it. I just don't think Haley likes Nathan very much,' he paused and shot a sympathetic look at Nathan. 'And that's why she didn't want to come to the game.' Brooke looked at Julian and a second later she began laughing. Nathan shook his head.

'Hey, it's a possibility.' Brooke said through her laughter. They didn't bring the topic up again but it stayed in the back of Nathan's mind. He knew that tone, it wasn't as simple as Haley simply having plans, there was something else to it, something he figured but didn't want to acknowledge.

The Weekend

Haley settled against a tree and stared out at the lake, it really was a beautiful day. They had been here for a few hours already. She watched as Julian and Brooke seemed to get a bit lost in their own world. She closed her eyes and settled, she just wanted a few minutes before she had to rejoin them. Before she had to purposefully try to avoid Nathan and his enquiring gaze. But Haley felt the shadow move across her before she heard the voice.

'What are you doing?' She squinted up to see Nathan standing above her. It took her a moment to gather her senses. She cleared her throat.

'Nothing really, why?' She she sat up and leaned against the tree letting her fingers brush through the grass. Nathan made a frustrated sound. Haley eyed him.

'Hey, you came over to me. I can't possibly have irritated you already.' Haley folded her arms and stared at Nathan.

'Very funny,' Nathan replied and took a step forward.

'I wasn't joking.' Haley shot back. This was the first time Nathan had actively spoken to her today.

'Brooke organised a cake,' Nathan stated simply. 'She wants to do the cake before we start drinking.' Haley nodded and stood. Nathan and Haley walked silently to the one picnic table that was out here. On it was a chocolate cake. She stopped a bit before the table, letting Nathan walk ahead and watched as Brooke giggled at Julian and began arranging the candles on the cake.

'Oh come on,' Lucas stated flatly. 'Don't you think we've outgrown the birthday cake thing?' Brooke looked incredulous.

'You are never too old for cake,' She stated matter of factly while lighting the candles.

'I second that,' Haley added while plopping into a seat next to Lucas. Nathan came to stand behind her.

'No point in arguing, Luke. You know how stubborn Brooke is.' Nathan chipped in and placed his hands on either side of Haley's chair. Brooke finished lighting the candles and grinned over at Lucas.

'Come on, Luke,' she said and placed her hand on his. 'It's your birthday. Let's make it fun.' He sighed, conceding.

'Ok,' Luke turned to look at Haley and Nathan. 'But if we're going to do a cake, we're going to do it how we always do.' Haley smiled at that response and Nathan shook his head.

'Oh come on,' Brooke huffed.

'It's tradition,' Lucas said simply, eyeing Brooke. 'The Scott siblings always blow out the candles together.' Brooke pointed at Haley.

'She isn't a Scott, she's a James. If she gets to do it, I want to as well.' Haley laughed- it was like they were kids again, always the same argument, and always the same response.

'Haley is my family,' Lucas replied seriously. Haley was always taken aback every time he said that, he had said it since the very first birthday party she had celebrated with them when they were ten. Before Lucas blew out his candles he called her over, Nathan was already there, he explained the tradition about how the Scott siblings always blew out the candles together. She remembered asking him why she was there then, and he had simply replied because she was his family. She remembered a miniature Brooke being upset and she also remembered the reply he had given her. It was the same one he was readying himself to say now. 'Brooke, you can't blow out the candles, one day I'm going to marry you. So, if I let you blow them out it would be like calling you my sister and that would be weird.' Brooke always had the same reaction to the reply, she blushed and murmured a "whatever". But she never blew out the candles with them.

Haley came back to the present, Brooke was now lighting the candles. She moved over to the table.

'This is ridiculous,' Julian laughed.

'Look, just think about it this way,' Brooke eyed him and kept lighting. 'It's something extra to eat before we start drinking it up and everyone likes cake.'

'I wouldn't argue this point with her. She's exceptionally stubborn about birthday cakes.' Haley interjected and pointed at the cake. 'Just go with it.' Julian laughed and threw up his hands in defeat. A minute later Brooke was done and a few seconds after that Julian blew out the candles. They each took a slice of cake and sat down at the table.

'You missed a good game today,' Brooke started and locked eyes with Haley. 'Nathan played really well.' Brooke used her fork to point at Nathan and Haley followed it. Nathan was looking at her. 'You should definitely try catch the next one.' Haley turned back to Brooke. She shifted uncomfortably. Slowly she broke a piece of her cake off.

'Yeah,' Haley replied simply. She could feel Nathan still watching her, and she knew Brooke wasn't just making small talk. Haley finished off the rest of her cake. 'I think I'm ready to start the drinking part of this day.' Haley mustered a smile and hoped everyone would just move on from this topic.

'Oh come on,' Haley huffed and threw the cards down that she was holding. 'Are you cheating or something?' Haley asked Julian, he simply laughed and tapped his cards.

'Statistically there had to be someone who could beat you,' Julian grinned at Haley. 'Also I'm just really good at cards.' Haley groaned, she had lost again at the drinking game they were playing. This was their fourth drinking game and while Brooke and Nathan had been eliminated early on, Julian was really giving Haley a run for her money. He reached down for the bottle of shooters.

'Julian,' she held up her hand. 'I honestly cannot do another shot of that stuff.'

'Ah, but you lost.'

'Yeah, and I love it when you are drunk.' Brooke added in and Haley stuck her tongue out at her. She looked to Nathan briefly who really wasn't paying attention to them. He seemed to be looking at the lake, lost in his thoughts and not really interested in what was going on. He was like for most of the afternoon.

'Pick something else you want me to do,' Haley waved her hand at Julian and shook her head vigorously at the bottle.

'Ok,' Julian conceded and looked to Brooke and then back to Haley. A grin spread across his face. 'I have a question I want to you answer.' Haley tilted her head and waited for him to continue. 'What number do you have?' Haley's face scrunched in confusion and she glanced towards Brooke who suddenly looked very nervous.

'What do you mean?' Haley asked Julian, hesitantly turning her attention away from Brooke and back to Julian.

'Your tattoo, I know you have one. Brooke told me it was something you two did together. So what's you number?' Haley looked back at Brooke who was clearly stressed and who had her eyes trained to Julian now. She suddenly wished she had just taken the shot. But she knew she had to answer, Julian didn't seem like he was going to drop this and Brooke looked worried. Haley took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second.

'Um, ' Haley kept her gaze on Julian but she could see Nathan in her peripheral vision. 'I have a 23.' She saw Nathan's head snap back and turn towards her, he was clearly paying attention now.

'So Brooke has a 22 and you have 23?' Julian recapped. 'Why? What's the significance?' Haley once again looked towards Brooke, she gave her head a slight shake. Haley swallowed understanding that Brooke hadn't explained the significance of the numbers.

'They were relevant to us in high school,' Haley said evenly answering in the vaguest way she could. She looked at Brooke, who then turned to look at Nathan and then back at Haley. Haley finally couldn't take it anymore and looked at Nathan. He held her gaze and Haley immediately felt herself flush. Without thinking about it she stood up.

'Anyway, Julian thanks for getting me drunk.' Haley put her hands on her hips. 'I'm just going to go over there for a bit, sober up and all.' Before anyone could say anything she left. She bee lined for a tree on the far side of the lake. When she reached it, she placed her hand on its trunk and took a shaky breath. She tried to steady herself and brush off what just happened but she was finding it difficult.

'Haley,' Nathan's voice came from behind her. She still had her hand placed on the tree trunk, but slowly she removed it and then turned around to face Nathan. He was only a few steps away from her.

'Brooke has a 22,' Nathan begun once she faced him. 'I knew that. But you have a 23? Was Julian right did you and Brooke do this-'

'In our senior year,' Haley cut Nathan off. 'Just before-' she closed her eyes. 'Just before the end of the year.'

'Why?' Nathan took a step forward. Haley didn't reply. 'Why, Haley?' he repeated the question, he needed to know the answer.

'We wanted something that was significance to us. That was important to each of us. I uh, I don't really know what else to say. ' Haley faded off and Nathan stayed quiet. He took another step towards her.

'Will you show me?' Haley considered Nathan; this was the first time he was talking to her without any amount of irritation or frustration present in him. She nodded and then very slowly she lifted her top and turned a bit to the side. The fabric of her bra was just covering the numbers and she lifted the material ever so slightly. Nathan inhaled sharply there on Haley's left side of her ribs, was the number 23. He took one more step forward and without really thinking about it, extended his arm. His fingers brushed over the 23 and Haley's eyes shut. A moment later he put his hand on her side covering the numbers.

'That's my number.' Nathan roughly said.

'Yeah,' Haley turned her head to look at him. 'Yeah, it is.'

A/N: Please review. I thought about this Chapter a lot it wasn't just about setting the end scene up with Haley and Nathan but it also set up a lot of other frameworks. Anyway, I will try to update by the end of the week! Also there will be a lot more Naley scenes from here on out.