They got to her house and saw a note on the door. It read: "Haley Bob, there's money for Chinese food on the kitchen counter. Order some for you and Nate, we'll be having dinner with his parents. Love you, Mom and Dad" The two looked at each other and had faint smiles. "I guess this gives us a reason to talk." Haley said to Nathan. And he nodded in agreement.

Haley and Nathan entered Haley's empty house and the silence was killing Nathan. He's never been so awkward around her before and he didn't want a stupid comment he made cause awkwardness between him and his best friend.

"Look Hales, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." She had a defeated smile plastered onto her face.

"So, Mongolian beef and orange chicken right Nate?" she said as she dialed the number to the Chinese restaurant.

"Yeah… perfect." He said in a whisper.

After she ordered the food he watched her take a seat on the couch farthest away from him.

"Are we never going to talk about this?" he asked her angrily.

"What's there to talk about Nathan? I understand, what you said was true. Alright? I mean Lucas ditched us easily for Brooke. I'm sure you'd do the same for Peyton."

Her remark got him shocked. He didn't want to listen to the words coming out of Haley's mouth. Was she really saying all of this to him?

"HALEY! Don't go twisting my words around like that!" he yelled at her.

She was scared to say anything else. She's never heard Nathan yell. Well she's heard him yell at his parents but never at her. It was terrifying to say the least.

"Twisting?" she said in a frightened tone, her voice shaking.

Nathan watched her shut down right in front of him, tears occupying her pretty hazel eyes.

"Hales… please don't cry." he pleaded

"If I had a girlfriend I'd spend more time with her and less time with you too." She mocked Nathan. The words cutting him like a knife.

"I'M NOT TWISTING ANYTHING AROUND! Those were the EXACT words that came out of your mouth Nathan!" he just stared as she continued to yell at him.

"Did you want me to be HAPPY about all of that?! And now you're here telling me not to cry." She laughed with frustration.

"I don't know where to put myself now that you've said that. Haven't you ever wondered why I never said yes to Lucas when he asked me to be his girlfriend?" his eyes widened at the words.

"Because of YOU Nathan! I said no because of stupid old Nathan Royal Scott. God. I feel so dumb."

"Haley stop before you say something you regret!" He said as he hugged her.

"No Nathan, I won't regret anything I say." She cried.

"You're my best friend, why can't you understand I love you?" Nathan pleaded to her.

She remained silent the moment she heard the word 'love'.

"Do you see my girlfriend in here Hales? No, it's just Haley-Waley and Nate the Great in here." He said as he rubbed her back with comfort.

Haley had no idea where her heart or head were at. Her emotions towards Nathan were jumbled and she needed someone to talk things through. She smiled at his nostalgic words.

"I'm sorry for being such a girl just now." Haley apologized as she wiped her tears.

"No it's alright, I've never seen you cry. It's refreshing to see that you actually are a girl." He said jokingly.

"Shut up! You're the one who use to always cry when they'd forget to turn the night light on in my room during sleepovers!" he gasped at the comment.

"Don't you dare use that against me Haley James!" he said as he tickled her on the couch. "Wahhh. S-stop it Nathan!" she said as she laughed.

"Never!" he said with happiness. Their eyes locked and at that moment Haley realized she loved Nathan. Not as a best friend but something more.

"Hales…" Nathan murmured as his heart raced. And he placed his lips against hers.

Haley didn't know what to do. Was she supposed to kiss him back? Push him off? Pull back? All these thoughts were clouding her thoughts. And eventually she just decided to loosen up and kiss him back. Suddenly the doorbell rang. The ring of the doorbell scared Nathan and he jumped at the noise.

"I'll get it." He said as he got up off the couch and grabbed the money on the counter. As he was paying for the food she sat up and replayed what just happened in her mind.

Nathan came back with the bags of food and set them down on the coffee table in the living room.

"The Mongolian beef is mine!" Haley exclaimed as she grabbed the carton labeled MB. "Not fair." Nathan said as he grabbed the order of orange chicken.

"You snooze you lose Natey" she said in a childish tone. He just smiled at her.

It was getting kind of late and they knew their parents wouldn't be coming back anytime soon.

"It's almost midnight and our parents are still out partying while we're here doing stupid homework." Nathan complained.

"Homework's not that bad Nate, stop being such a baby."

"Says tutor girl." He scoffed.

"You do know whose house you're in right? And I have the right to kick you out, Scott." She said with emphasis on the "Scott."

"HAHA, very funny, James. But your threats don't scare me, I've been in and out of this house for 16 years I can come and go as I please" he replied with arrogance. She simply just stuck her tongue out at him.

"Hales… about earlier today. I'm sorry if I took advantage of you. I didn't mean to kiss you." Nathan said with conviction.

"Oh, it's alright. We were all emotional and stuff. I bet you were imagining Peyton or something." She said as she chuckled.

"Yeah, Peyton…" he said in a low unconvincing tone.

"Is it alright if I crash tonight?" He asked Haley as she was focusing on her Calculus homework.

"Uh-huh," she said as she scooted over on her bed. He looked over at her and smiled as she attentively did her work.

"You don't think we're getting too old to be sleeping in the same bed? I think I've been getting funny looks from your dad." He said laughing.

"I mean, if you want to sleep on the cold hardwood floor be my guest," she said as she smiled.

"No thank you," Nathan replied as he took his spot on the bed.

"Ten more minutes and I'll be done with my homework and I'll turn the light off." "No need to rush, I'm not very sleepy yet."

"Are you sure that's the reason, or is Natey still afraid of the dark?" He glared at the mean comment.

"Aren't you just the jokester today?" he said as he looked at her. She was laughing so hard she dropped her calculator.

"I'm sorry that just tickled my funny bone." Haley said as she giggled.

"So, you and Peyton. How is that going?" Haley asked as she turned the side table lamp off.

"Eh, I guess it's fine. She's inviting me to do work with her on Saturday."

"Nathan…" Haley said with a condescending tone.

"What? I'm not the one who planned it, she was the one who invited me over to her house." He said defending himself.

"Don't you think she's just using you for the sex Nate?" Haley said scared at her own question.

She knew all about Peyton and Nathan's sexual affair and she rarely asked about it knowing that it was a touchy topic for the two.

"Even if she is, I don't like her like I used to. I saw her real nature." He said as it seemed like he was in the middle of his thoughts.

"She never wanted me for me, she wanted me for the sex so that's what I'm giving her." "Well as long as you aren't getting hurt Nate." Haley said concerned.

"Don't worry about me Hales, I'm a big boy."

"Ew, I didn't need to know the dirty details." She said jokingly.

"HALEY!" he said as he nudged her.

"What a girl can't make a joke?"

"Not like that!" she just chuckled at the disturbed Nathan.

"Well what about you Hales? Any boy caught your interest?" She laid on her pillow staring at him.

"Nah, no one." she answered quickly.

"No boy good enough?" he questioned.

"No, it's just… I don't know. I've never noticed anyone."

"Well when you do notice someone I want to be the first to meet him." He said with much seriousness.

"Alright Natey." She said with slight hurt.

"Promise?"

"I promise." She said as she teared up a little.

"Well I'm going to sleep now Hales," he said as he hugged her waist.

"Night Nate." Then the two fell asleep, with Haley in Nathan's arms.

Haley woke up to the sound of her father's voice.

"Haley Bob, Nate, wake up. School time" he said in a relaxed tone.

Jimmy James was fond of Nathan, he has seen him grow up. Although they were at the age it seemed inappropriate to be sleeping in the same bed he knew Nathan would never do anything to hurt Haley.

"What time is it?" Haley said as she rose from her pillow.

"7:00AM". She looked down to see Nathan still sleeping.

"NATHANNNN. GET UP SO WE CAN EAT BREAKFAST."

"Breakfast?" he said as his eyes opened.

"I knew that would get him up." She said as she smiled at her dad.

"Good one Haley Bob." Her dad smiled back at her.

"Thanks daddy" she said as she got up from her bed.

"Oh, you James' working against me." He said as he got up.

"Hurry up and get ready and I'll consider making pancakes." Jimmy said as he left the room.

It was after school and Haley and Lucas were going to work on their project for English. As she got into Lucas' car Haley saw Nathan running towards them.

"Hales! Luke! Hold up!" The two looked at each other then over at Nathan. As he got to them he was trying to catch his breath.

"Star Ravens player breathless? Now this is a sight." Lucas said as he teased his friend. "What's up Nate? I thought you were going to work on your project with Peyton today" Haley asked.

"Exactly why we gotta leave now step on it blonde-y!" Nathan said as he got into the back seat.

"Are you avoiding Peyton or something Nate?" Lucas questioned.

"Yeah, I was meeting up with her after school and then a couple of her friends came up to us and she introduced me as her boyfriend. It freaked me out."

"So you ran away like a little girl?" Haley said as she laughed, but at the same time a little hurt. At that moment Nathan's phone rang.

"God, I bet that's her now." He said with grief.

"Nate it's not very nice to avoid her like this." Lucas scolded.

"I know it's just, I'm confused. Do I want to be her boyfriend?" he said torn.

Haley sat in the passenger seat silent. Was the conversation they had last night a complete sham? So he did really like Peyton?

"Well do whatever makes you happy Nathan, if it's Peyton then you should consider your relationship with her, don't you agree Hales?" Lucas added in.

"Oh, yeah. You and Peyton would make a cute couple. I can see that now. Pathan or or or Neyton! That sounds adorable." The two boys laughed at Haley's comments.

"Couples names, really Haley?" Nathan asked.

"Well yeah! Like Lucas and Brooke, Brucas. It's just lovely!" she said trying to shut her emotions towards Nathan off.

"Well if you think so then can you drop me off at Peyton's place Luke?"

"Yeah sure" he said as he kept driving.

Lucas couldn't help but wonder what was going on with his best friends. He knew Haley had feelings for Nathan, but was supporting him on his mission for Peyton. And Nathan with the Peyton thing was just a mess within itself. He couldn't help but be a Naley supporter since these were his best friends but he also didn't want the two idiots to force a relationship that would potentially ruin their friendship.

"Does this dress look Desdemona-y enough?" Haley asked as she walked out with her hair down and a big red dress.

"Hales you look perfect!" He said as he looked at his beautiful friend.

"Now go against the white wall and I'll hand you the strawberries."

She did as instructed and went against the wall. She cupped her hands and Lucas placed about four strawberries on her palms. Luke walked over to camera and was focusing it.

"Alright Hales on my count 1, 2, 3" And she looked passionately into the camera. Lucas was in awe at the perfect first shot.

"Hales, it's beautiful…" he said as he reviewed the picture.

"I'm sure it ain't that great." She said humbling herself.

"Come and look!" Then she walked over to look at the tiny screen.

She's never seen herself look that way before. Her eyes filled with passion yet a little mixture of hate occupied her eyes as well.

"This is perfect Haley." Lucas said as he smiled at her.

Haley got out of her Desdemona costume and went back downstairs to now cooking Lucas.

"You didn't have to cook for me Luke! Me and Nate would probably have dinner together anyways."

"Well by the looks of it Peyton will be Nate's dinner tonight." Lucas said devilishly. "EWWW. Thanks for that disturbing mental image." Haley said as she hit Lucas' arm. "What's with you two anyways Hales? Don't you like Nathan?"

"No." she answered without thought.

"Don't kid yourself Hales. Like I said our freshmen year, you love Nathan and you just don't know it yet." She sat quietly.

"Well… Luke I got a confession for you."

"Hm?" he said as he looked over at the now overthinking blonde turned brunette.

"What if I do have feelings for Natey?"

"One, you have got to stop calling him Natey. And two, you're perfect for him Hales." "But what about Peyton?"

"What about her? She's just another one of those sluts that want a piece of Nathan's basketball glory. You on the otherhand, I've known you and Nate since I was 4 and it's safe to say that you and him did perfectly fine without me in your lives."

"Luke seriouslyyyy"

"I am being serious Hales. I'm sure Nate is going to deny Peyton's request and the moment you ask him to be yours he'll say yes in a heartbeat."

"I really don't think it's that easy Luke…"

"And why not?"

"Well the other night, h-he kissed me."

"That's great Hales!"

"But then he apologized about it."

"Oh. That's not so great."

"Tell me about it."

"Well what did you say after he apologized?"

"I brought up Peyton like an idiot."

"Eeep. How'd that go?"

She considered telling Lucas the truth about how Nathan felt towards Peyton but she'd feel wrong about doing it.

"He really likes her Luke." She lied.

"Aww, Hales… I'm so sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, we just want Nate to be happy right?" she forced a smile.

"Yeah I guess so." Luke agreed as he turned off the oven.

He looked down at his now burnt food.

"Let's just go out for pizza or something…" he said as he looked at the inedible food. "Good idea, let's invite Brooke!" Haley suggested.

"That's a lovely idea Hales." Then he contacted his girlfriend.

The Roe-Davis-James trio found themselves at Bowser's Pizza ordering two large pizzas. "Two?" Brooke asked with disgust.

"Yeah, Hales here is an eater." Lucas teased.

"Hey! You love that about me, one of the reasons you asked me out Freshmen year." She said tauntingly.

Brooke couldn't help but laugh at Haley's blunt humor and her now blushing boyfriend. "Oh Luke, at least we all know you have good taste in women" Brooke said as she tried to comfort Lucas.

"Thank you! See I like you B. Davis, you're just lovely you know that?" Haley said as she sipped on her Coke.

"You're not half bad yourself Tutor Girl" Brooke replied.

As the night was just beginning to fill with laughter Haley saw a sight she didn't want to. Peyton and Nathan hand-in-hand walking into Bowser's.

"Oh god…" Lucas said with fear.

"What, what's going on?" Brooke said confused.

"We'll tell you later" Haley added.

"Ditching me again you guys?" Nathan said teasingly as he approached their table.

"Hey Nate!" Brooke said with a wide smile.

"Hey Brooke, aren't you guys just looking lively?" He questioned the trio.

"Yeah we're having loads of fun, why don't you join us?" Haley offered.

"Oh alright." Peyton said as she took a seat near Haley.

"Well I'm glad I bumped into you guys. I'm sure you guys all know Peyton, my girlfriend." Haley's heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she heard those words escape Nathan's mouth.

"My best friend fits in perfectly with this group of friends" Brooke stated as she smiled.

"Sorry Hales, we just gotta find you a Raven's basketball player!" Peyton said jokingly. Everyone was laughing, with the exception of the sensitive Haley.

"Well maybe if you join the cheerleading team your chances will be higher!" Brooke added.

"Thanks for the offer but no thank you, I would never waste my time cheering for a basketball team." Haley said nastily.

The tension amongst the friends grew and Haley knew she was the one to blame.

"I'm sorry, what I meant is that I'm too busy with tutoring and everything. If you ever need a fill-in I'm up for it." Haley added that last sentence to sound genuine.

"Great!" Brooke said as she tried to ease the now formed awkwardness between everyone.

As the night grew the laughs remained. Haley didn't want to seem rude but she really wanted to leave considering she was fifth-wheeling it, and fifth-wheeling it hard.

"Well I'm getting tired and I still need to study for my Calculus test tomorrow. I'll see you guys tomorrow at school" She said with the fakest smile ever.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7:30?" Nathan asked.

"Oh no, it's alright. Drive Peyton to school!" Haley said practically bruised inside.

"I'd rather drive myself to school" Peyton added.

"It's fine, really Nate. I don't want to be a bother." She said as she saw him rubbing Peyton's thigh under the table.

"Ok then Hales, if you insist." He said as he was looking at Peyton and smiling.

"Good night everyone!"

"Night!" They gang said in unison. And she left Bowser's with tears in her eyes, everything was about to change for her.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I appreciate every single follower and review of my fanfic. It means a lot that you guys are giving me a chance even though it's my first Naley story~ I hope you're all enjoying the drama. Get ready for more problems in Tree Hill!