A/N: Honestly, there is nothing I can say other than better late than never, right?

Here's a reminder of where we are at, last chapter was a Nathan centered chapter where we saw him grapple with Haley being back and we learnt a bit about their history and how their relationship shifted or really began to solidify. Also Nathan ended up taking Haley home from a party when she wasn't feeling too well.

As always the flashbacks are in italics. Just a bit of a timeline for you, the first flashback happens after the second one but both happen in their senior year. There will be a lot of flashbacks in the upcoming chapters as we learn what exactly happened.

Anyway thank you all for the amazing reviews, please keep reviewing! I promise I won't take so long to update again. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: You could still be what you want to…

Haley stopped for a second and pulled her jacket closer around her, she looked up, it wasn't long now before it would start raining. She looked left and then right, deciding where to check. For a second she debated the roof, but she knew that wasn't his place. His place. As soon as she thought it, she realised where he would be. She folded her arms, trying to keep a bit warmer- she really should have put something warmer over her cheerleading outfit before heading out. But there was no point in worrying about that now.

She made a turn and picked up her pace a bit, the wind was picking up now. The movement was at least helping her stay warm.

Relief washed over her a few minutes later when she reached the outer edges of the River court. There on the table, with his head in his hands was Nathan.

Haley let out the breath she had been holding and slowly walked towards to him, she stopped in front of him. The movement hadn't stirred him.

'Nathan,' his name came out raspy, but it was enough to get him to look up at Haley. He just looked at her, not saying a word. 'What are you doing?' Haley asked clutching her thin cheerleading jacket around her once more. 'Everyone is waiting for you.' She added. He just kept looking at her, and she kept standing in front of him. The silence was becoming too much for Haley to bear. She dropped her folded arms, and walked to stand directly in front of him. She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek while brushing her hair out of her face with her other hand. Nathan seemed to jump a bit at her touch.

'Your hand is beyond cold,' Nathan finally said, yet he seemed to lean more into her hand as he said it.

'I don't know if you've noticed, Nate but it's about to rain and it's pretty cold out.' Haley said matter- of -factly. Nathan reached up for her hand and Haley let him remove it from his cheek, he reached for her other hand and brought both of them together using his hands to cup hers, inadvertently pulling her even closer to him

'You're freezing,' he said and finally seemed to take her in properly. 'Why would you come out here in just your cheerleading outfit?' he blew into her hands.

'Nathan,' she said slightly frustrated that she was being scolded here and that they were wasting time, 'I came to get you. What are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you, and Luke is worried out of his mind.'

'I'm not going, Hales,' Nathan said pulling her even closer to him so that she now rested her hands on his legs, while he rubbed up and down her arms.

'Yes you are,' Haley fumed, catching his gaze. 'You have Duke Scouts at this game. It's the last one before they make a firm offer. You need to be there.'

'Haley,' Nathan shook his head. 'I can't.'

'What is this really about, Nathan?' she was pushing him now and took a step back. She needed to be out of his touch, she had to drive home the urgency of this situation.

'It's too much pressure-'

'The hell it is,' Haley snapped, 'I've seen you under pressure, it doesn't make you run it makes you push.' Nathan stayed quiet and Haley again brushed her hair back, the wind was whipping it all around her. 'Tonight isn't just about you, Nate your teammates are waiting for you. Luke is waiting for you- the Scouts watch both of you together as a package deal. Don't throw this opportunity away, Nathan. Come back with me, we can still make it before the game starts.'

Haley's words struck him. They were true. Every last one, but yet he still couldn't muster the resolve to push past this. Haley stepped forward.

'Please, Nate,' she searched his face, 'tell me how to help you?'

'It's Dan,' Nate finally said. 'I can't do it with him there; you don't understand what he was like today. He wants to control everything, he doesn't want me going to Duke. He'll intercept any offers I get. So, I don't see any point in going to this game, it won't make a difference!' Haley pinched the bridge of her nose trying to control her anger. She should have known this has had to do with Dan- not many things could get under Nathan's skin like this.

'I'll handle Dan,' Haley said already formulating a plan. 'But we need to go now, Nate. Don't throw this away. It's your chance to get out from under Dan.'

'How are you going to handle Dan?'

'Let me worry about that.'

'Haley-'

'Nathan, I'm not leaving without you. I will sit here until it pours down on both of us if that's what it takes-' she had more to stay but was cut off as Nathan grabbed her hands, pulled her an inch closer to him and kissed her. He let go of her hands and she wrapped them around his neck, as he wrapped them around her waist and pulled her into his body. Her whole body was cold, but she could feel the warmth of his, she responded to it, she let it surround her, she let him surround her. It felt like an eternity but still not long enough when Haley finally broke the kiss. It was the first time Nathan had kissed her and he couldn't quite believe that he had waited so long to do it.

A few drops landed on Haley and she looked up.

'Let's go,' Nathan said and he took her hand, finally standing up. Haley still hadn't said anything, she just nodded. They left quickly and within five minutes they had made it to the school. Nathan paused as he reached the entrance and turned to Haley.

'Hales,' she leaned up and placed a small kiss on his lips.

'Go, I've got Dan.'

'I'll see you after?' Haley broke out into a smile.

'Yeah, definitely.' Nathan smiled back and nodded, then he turned and left, and Haley watched as the gym doors shut behind him.

'What are you thinking about?' The words floated down to Haley bringing her out of her haze. She shook her head and looked up to see Nathan standing on the other side of the table she was sitting at.

'Nothing,' Haley cleared her throat.

'It didn't look like nothing,' Nathan eyed her. Ever since the other night Nathan had called a sort of truce with Haley, he was no longer actively avoiding her but he still wasn't exactly warm towards her.

'What are you doing here?' Haley asked deflecting the question.

'Looking for you actually,' Nathan stated, catching Haley's attention. He finally sat down. 'You know it's Brooke's birthday this coming weekend?' Haley nodded. 'We're organising a small surprise party for her but Julian and I need you to get her to it. It's after the basketball match on Friday, if you could just grab her after the game and make up some excuse while Julian and I slip out to get it all ready, and then if you could make up another excuse to get her there-' Nathan was rambling and stopped short when he saw Haley's face- she had gone pale. 'Haley?' he asked uncertainly, she seemed to realise that she was giving her emotions away and gave Nathan a small unsteady smile.

'Sounds like I'll need a lot of excuses,' Haley quickly replied. 'But sure.' She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. 'You said it's after Friday's game?' Nathan nodded. 'What time does is start?'

"At six.' Nathan watched Haley but he knew she was being careful and not giving anything away. 'You can make it to the game, right? You're coming to watch?' A part of him, some part that he didn't understand, wanted Haley at the game beyond just needing her there for Brooke.

'I guess so,' Haley replied, she bit her bottom lip.

'If this is a problem-'

'No,' Haley stood up and shook her head. 'I'll be there and I'll get Brooke to where she needs to be. Let me know if you need help with the planning.' She picked up her bag and walked around the table, Nathan turned to the side.

'Haley,' he said and without thinking about he reached out and grabbed her hand. 'I know that look. What's wrong?' Haley pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand, trying to keep calm. It was all feeling a bit too much, the unexpected physical contact with Nathan, the thought of the game and the fact that she couldn't keep her memories in check.

'I'm ok,' she gently pulled her hand from his –instantly registering the absence of heat that came with removing it. 'It's just been a busy day.' Haley lied easily- she couldn't quite remember when lying had become so natural to her.

'Haley-' Nathan turned more towards her but didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.

'I'll see you around, Nate.' Haley began walking away, making a point of not glancing back, yet she could feel Nathan's eyes on her.

Haley leaned against the counter- another successful party for Brooke's birthday had been pulled off. Actually, considering it was their senior year they had gone all out and it had been one of the best birthdays they had celebrated as a group so far. Haley looked around at all the happy people. Her gaze stopped on Brooke who was currently laughing with their cheerleading friend Peyton. She looked across the room and smiled when she saw Lucas both having a good time but whose gaze always lingered on Brooke. The only person she couldn't spot was Nathan, she shifted off the counter and was about to leave the kitchen when a voice stopped her.

'Hales,' she looked over her shoulder as Nathan stepped into the room, a big smile on his face.

'Nate,' she grinned back and turned to face him. He walked over to her.

'Where have you been all night?'

'I could ask you the same thing,' Haley replied and leaned back against the counter. Nathan followed suit coming to settle beside her. He looked over at her, taking all of her in- every time he saw her it just drove home what he was feeling.

'I wasn't here the whole time,' Haley's eyebrows raised at that response. 'I needed some time to think, so I slipped out for a bit.'

'Ok…' Haley faded out not sure what to say, she considered Nathan. 'What were you thinking about?' He caught her gaze and held it.

'Those Duke scouts coming over in a few weeks for their final visit and…' Nathan hesitated for a moment, 'and you.'

'Me?' Haley suddenly felt very aware of her surroundings.

'Yeah,' Nathan pushed off the counter and stepped in front of her. He placed a tentative hand on her face and then ran it through her hair. Haley cleared her throat.

'Nathan,' she started as he moved his other hand to her waist, her top was slightly raised and he began using his thumb to trace patterns on her exposed skin there. 'Why?'

'Because I literally can't stop thinking about you,' Nathan's other hand found her waist and Haley felt goosebumps form all over her body as he pulled her slightly off the counter and closer to him. She glanced up at him, her lips parted but then she heard a voice before the source of it reached them.

'HALEY!' she held Nathan's gaze for the few seconds they had and then she stepped out of his hold, turning to look at the entrance of the kitchen as Luke stepped through it. He broke out into a grin when he saw her, and she couldn't help but smile back.

'There you are,' Luke stopped in front of her. 'I need you to do something with me, I know what I want.' Haley tilted her head at Luke, she thought she knew what he meant.

'Really?' she asked him curiously and ventured a glance at Nathan which immediately made her stomach flutter.

'I can't do it without you though, its tradition.' Haley smiled at him. 'Can we go now?' For a second Haley paused looking between Luke and Nathan. She stopped on Nathan.

'Go,' he said. 'I'll find you later.'

'Ok, Luke. Let's head.' She walked to him and put a hand on his arm and they left the party. The air was cool and the night sky was filled with stars.

'So, do I get to know the details?' Haley asked Luke as they made their way to Karen's Café and their roof.

'You know that's against the rules,' Luke nudged her softly.

'Yes, but then again we never add things to the box during the year we normally wait for the start of the next.'

'This is too important to wait,' Luke added and smiled over at her. 'Also you know you have to write something too?' Haley stopped walking for a second.

'Hmmm, I think I can manage that.' She had one thing on her mind and she was pretty sure she could venture a guess as to what Luke would be writing about. They reached the Café a few minutes later, Luke used his key to get in and they made their way to the roof. As soon as they reached the top they turned on the fairy lights and for a second Haley just took it all in- it always captivated her. Some of her best memories happened on this roof.

'I love it up here,' Haley sighed and walked over to a wall, she removed a brick and took out a box. Carefully she opened it, taking out the little notebook and pens that were placed on top of all the little notes in that box.

'So do I,' Luke replied as he took a pen and piece of paper from Haley. 'Ready?' Luke asked a minute later.

'Yeah, I think I know what I'm writing.' Haley nodded and for the next minute they each sat in silence and wrote their note. When done they folded their pieces of paper, Luke grinned as he dropped his in and then placed the box in the wall with the brick hiding it once more.

'So when do we read these ones?' Haley asked as she settled against the ledge and looked up at the fairy lights, taking in how they contrasted against the stars. 'Start of the year when we write the next ones or do we wait until this time next year?' Luke considered the question and walked over to stand next to Haley.

'I think we should do it at the start of next year. I think these thoughts are worth bending the rules for.' Haley looked over at Luke and understood what he meant, she leaned her head on his shoulder and Luke wrapped an arm around her.

'Thanks for doing this with me, Hales.'

'Anytime, Luke.'

Haley came back to the present and looked down; she had been texting when she had been pulled into that all consuming memory. She looked around and sat down, taking a deep breath, and dialled a number she knew all too well.

'Hey Peyton,' Haley knew her voice sounded rough. 'I just wanted to check in.' Haley let Peyton tell her about everything that was going on her side and then she told her about everything that had happened recently including the plans for Brooke's upcoming birthday.

'Are you going to be ok?' Haley let the question linger for a moment.

'Yeah, I think so.' She finally replied.

'We are going to try come by soon.' Peyton finally added and then they ended the call. Haley had hoped that talking to Peyton would have been enough to calm her down, ground her again but she still felt unsettled. Without thinking about it, she grabbed her jacket, keys and left her room. She began walking to Brooke's room. She knocked once she reached it but no answer came and Haley figured that Brooke was probably out with Julian. Haley sighed and walked to the stairs she had climbed up, she sat down pulling her knees to her and resting her head on them. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She would be ok, she knew why all of these memories were rushing back, it wasn't the first time. She just had to push through. Keep pushing.

'Haley?' she startled. Slowly she looked up to see Nathan standing before her. She almost laughed. 'What are you doing?'

'I was looking for Brooke,' she looked away. Nathan's presence just kept triggering all these memories. 'Do you stay around here?' Haley finally asked breaking the silence that had fallen.

'Yeah,' Nathan nodded and took a step forward. 'Come on.' He said and Haley looked up at him in surprise. He was holding his hand out for her.

'Nathan…' Haley's voice faltered as she debated what to do.

A/N: Give or take a chapter or two and you'll find out exactly what happened. As always please review! :)