Hi everyone!

So sorry for this extended time, my grandmother had me to start watching The Vampire Diaries, and guilty as charged I fell under the spell! So I have been on a Vamp kick non stop and havne't even opened my computer to write much at all. I apologize. Also I believe I posted about my Aunt being diagnosed w Stage Four Cancer. So my family is dealing with a lot right now. School also is back, and I'm taking a couple of classes, but also having to do somewhat practicums and such as well as normal Nannying as well. So I'm a bit busy and with no OTH on, I'm finding it hard to be inspired to write Naley. But never fear, I just had to get back at it and make it so that everything doesn't happen in just 2 chapters and that's it… kinda hard! But I'm gonna try to update once every two weeks from now on!

Hope you're ready for the ride we're about to take. Thanks to Kellay for all the help you've given me on this upcoming half of the story! It's been needed and so appreciated! Happy reading and plz leave your thoughts. You'll surely have them

Chapter 21

Nathan followed Haley outside, both of them making their way through the cars crammed in the driveway until they reached hers that was parked on a side street. Nathan had flown home for the weekend and without much persuading, he convinced Lucas to drive down with him to see Haley. It wasn't hard seeing as Brooke and Lucas had a pretty steady long distance relationship going on, and his older brother took any chance he could to see the bubbly brunette.

"You get some rest, take your meds, and call me in the morning once you're up. I only have one more full day here with you, and as much as I want to spend it with you, I understand if you're not really up for doing anything" he eased a thick lock of her hair behind her ear, before letting his fingers linger on the smooth skin of her cheek.

"No, I want to see you too. I'll give you a text first thing in the morning when I'm up. Just make sure you're not completely wasted and hung-over" She squinted at Nathan, daring him to challenge her request or deny the fact that it was a possibility.

"Who me?" he brought her closer into his arms and kissed her neck.

"Yes. And I am not that much of a light weight that I can't handle a beer, you just have awful taste in beer Scott. I'm gonna get going. Hook up with Jake so you and Luke can crash at his place, or just come back with Brooke and Peyton. Either is fine with us all, just don't leave me hanging in the morning. I wanna spend as much time as I can with you."

He leaned down and kissed her lips softly before pulling back "I promise Hales" he kissed her once more before pulling her into his arms and squeezing her tight. He loved hugging her.

He waited until her car rounded the corner before going back into the music filled house. Smoke immediately filled his lungs as he walked towards the kitchen seeing Brooke and Lucas in a circle of people playing a game of "I Never". Unlike him, his brother was never one for these types of parties and he knew Brooke was the only reason Luke had agreed to come. It was no surprise that guys wanted her, and Luke made sure that everyone knew she was off limits whether he was in town or back home.

"Hey Nate, you in? I'd love to find out some dirt on my future BIL" Brooke called to him. This wasn't the first time she'd referred to him as her brother in law and it always amazed him that it never freaked his brother out. She was certain she would marry Lucas and wasn't afraid to voice it.

"Sure why not, I need to warn my brother about the vixen that's clearly planned a future for him" He took a seat on the other side of the island sitting next to a blonde that was taking a shot although no one said anything.

"Don't mind her, she'll be drinking to anything you throw out there, right Open Legs" Brooke said to Nathan, sassing the girl beside him.

"I learned from the best Brooke. We all know your doors and legs are open twenty-four seven"

Lucas grabbed a hold of Brooke's waist before she could reach the blonde and stopped her. "Babe, just cool it. Let's just get out of here"

"No, my turn! I never had sex with the assistant football coach after having my so-called heart broke because my boyfriend dumped me. Drink up bitch!" Brooke slammed the drink in front of her, some of it splashing on the counter and her.

"Babe, stop. Just walk away" Lucas's hold on her arm tightened as he pulled her away from the group.

Nathan grabbed himself a drink before following the pair. He might have been only a couple of years older than the students here, but he was glad this wasn't his scene anymore. Sure he loved hanging out and having a few drinks, but there was a maturity level that could change the whole night for him.

He rounded the corner and stopped short when he found Luke sitting down while Brooke stood over him. They were whispering to one another and Nathan took a step back when they started their usual making out. He figured he could search for Jake and Peyton, but when he bumped into someone, his large build knocking her down, he became distracted.

"Whoa, sorry about that. Here, let me" he reached down and grabbed the blonde's elbow, pulling her up. "oh, hi" he said nervously when he saw that it was the blonde Brooke had bitched out only moments ago. She looked to be in bad shape with her hair a tangled mess and her eyes puffy and red.

"Thanks. You should go, I know I look a mess and am the laughing stock slut of the party thanks to Brooke" she went to walk away, but tripped and was grateful when Nathan grabbed her before she could hit the ground.

Nathan squinted at computer screen and ran his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated. They'd gotten this Facebook about two weeks ago, and they'd had many friend requests they'd accepted, but there was one that constantly appeared no matter how many times he declined it.

He first saw all the postings Haley made in her class's group, and how two of her friends' lived not too far with their families. He read the comments between the women and laughed at all the exclamation marks that clearly showed how excited they were. He'd first noticed his account being tagged in a post and cringed at the name Tracy Baker asking how they were and if they had any children. Haley never responded to her questions, and he realized that after ignoring and declining her request, she wouldn't give up.

Exiting out of Facebook, Nathan opened his email and became angry at the amount of email's he received from Tracy. He scanned through the emails, each one different than the last, and unconsciously clenched his fist in anger at her words.

"It's the one with Collin Farrell and that chick. He's like FBI or something and they take her and he has to find her, but she pisses her pants and he gives into the torture and tells them."

"Okay.."

"And he finds out she was fine all along and it was only a test. He blew the whole damn mission, and like gets fired, and that's how the movie ends"

Nathan shook his head, and laughed out loud. He had a good buzz going on but the extreme-buzz she had going made his all the better.

"Actually the movie continues and ends with finding out he was double crossed by one of their own and he pretty much saves the day. Oh and the movie's called The Recruit and the bad guy was Al Pacino"

"Well excuse me Mr. Movie Know It All. All I really know is that Collin is hot in it just like with everything else he's in. He's such a badass."

Since he helped her to a nearby couch, he'd been stuck there listening to her talk about anything that popped into her head. She didn't seem like the monster they all made her out to be, and he could relate to being the laughing stock and being punished for it.

"Well it's a movie, so for all we know he's really a soft ass in real life"

"Don't they torture you in the army? When you don't obey, or like isn't there hazing? My great grandfather used to tell us stories of how he was hazed until he broke"

"Naa, it's not really like that. I mean yea, they put you through some stuff when you're in a different combat type to prepare you, but nothing like they used to do back then"

"Yea, like what?"

"I'm in more of the mechanic and technology side of the Army, but people talk and you hear things. There's different stories out there- typical heat exposure to prepare you for walks in the desert. They'll psych you out some to try and get answers out of you.."

"Aha! Like in the movie. You might as well be the FBI or something"

"It's hard enough being in the army and away from my family and friends. Not really sure I'm cut out for FBI life, or lack of one. Then there's all the secrets you'd have to keep and that's not something I could have in my future"

"You mean like with a wife and kids?"

Nathan saw the seriousness in her eyes and in that quick second it seemed as though she'd completely sobered up and focused on what he was really saying.

"Well yea" he mulled over the question another second before continuing. "I hate not being able to a tell Haley every single thing about where I am and she feels the same way. It's my job for now, but I can't imagine having something like the CIA or FBI being my actual lifestyle. I wouldn't put her through that"

"You seem pretty sure of yourself that you'll be with her in the future. What if this is it for you guys?"

"Haley is my future, I don't question that at all"

"Yea yea, all you guys say that but you don't mean it! I was someone's future you know, that is until he found another present to fulfill some needs. Everyone wants to spread rumors and say the breakup was my fault and I was being a slut, but what they don't know is how I walked in on Brian screwing some girl in the quad dorms"

Nathan wasn't really sure what to say after that slip of personal information. She was full of drama, sure, but he could also see a different side to her. A human side that was broken.

"Well any guy that cheats on a girl is a dick, and any girl that cheats on a guy is a bitch. It's happened once to me and I refused to date girls that thought they were better than everyone else. Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me.. something like that"

When Nathan didn't get an immediate response, he looked over to see the girl staring straight ahead in a daze. "You know, I'm sure your friends are supposed to keep you away from me. Haley probably warned them to make sure I didn't get within two feet of you. We were close before, Me and Haley. She's one of the nicest people I've ever met, especially being a girl. Most are catty, bitchy, and selfish"

"None of those words describe Haley" he cut in to agree.

"Not by a long shot. I kept disappointing her. She was teaching me to be a "good girl" like her but I guess it's just not me. Kind of a lost cause from day one I guess. But she's a good one"

"Alright, this is supposed to be a party right? Cheer up, let's go finish that game of I never and have a little fun. You don't need to mope around and let anyone ruin a night of fun" He stood up and waited for her to do the same before walking back into the kitchen. She wasn't as bad as he thought and if Haley could see something good in her, then he figured there had to be something there.

"You're back Trace… you must want to get drunk huh" a guy that was a little shorter than Nathan taunted her before smirking. "I never cheated on my boyfriend with the football coach"

Looking to Nathan, she considered his words from before. She didn't have to go along with the rumor everyone thought to be true, but figured it didn't matter. Taking a shot, she saw the look Nathan was giving her and smirked herself.

"My turn, I've never been in the CIA and killed someone on a mission"

Nathan shook his head and laughed. If she'd drink to a lie, so would he.

"Cheers" he said quickly downing the shot, the liquid burning the back of his throat going down. This was only the beginning of a nearly hour long game of I never with the two of them taking shots at one another jokingly.

Tracy, this is getting old already. Please do not contact me anymore. I nor Haley have anything to say to you. Please stop pestering us.

He knew the simple message didn't do justice to what he really wanted to say to her. That would have been more of a "you conniving whore, fuck off and stop emailing me" kind of email.

"Earth to Nathan"

Jumping at the unexpected voice, Nathan turned to see his brother leaning against the door frame holding two longneck beers in each hand.

"What the hell man you scared me. Don't you know how to knock" he pushed away from the lap top after closing his web browser.

"Umm yea I do, and I know how to ring a bell which I did several times before I used my key and came in. What were you staring at on there, porn? I thought that was only a college phase"

"Trust me Lucas your best friend keeps me so satisfied that porn is non-existent in my life"

"Yep, definitely didn't want to hear that. Anyway, let's go I'm not pausing the games anymore"

"Luke I'm really not all that interested in seeing the Olympics, I'm just doing it to humor you. Besides what I want to see isn't on for a couple more hours."

They made their way into the living room, each cracking open a beer before digging into the Pizza Hut that sat before them.

Lucas could tell that something was off with his brother from the moment he walked into the office and saw his physical appearance. He was tense and something was definitely troubling him.

Part of Nathan was glad that Lucas had shown up. He and his brother could easily be distracted from all else when they were together but nothing seemed to be able to distract Nathan from the hurricane that Tracy was sure to bring along.

"Be back in a minute" Nathan moved from the couch before Lucas could respond and made his way down the hall and into his bedroom. His phone constantly vibrated in his pocket and when he finally unlocked it, he found six different emails from Tracy all saying that she needed to talk to him and that he couldn't ignore her forever.

He knew first hand that Tracy can't be ignored.

You've reached Haley, leave a message

"Hales, baby please call me back. I need to see you so that I can explain everything. You know me Hales, you know I'd never do anything to jeopardize what we have so just talk to me" he pulled the phone away from his ear, glancing at the time. "We're leaving in just a few hours. Luke wants to get in before we hit traffic and I have that early flight out tomorrow, so please I need to see you before we're on the road. At least call Brooke or…"

To review your recording, press 1..

"Ugh!" Nathan controlled the need he had to simply throw his phone and ran his hands through his already dismantled hair.

"Still no word from Haley"

He looked up to see Tracy wrapped in a short blue towel. She stood in the same doorway Haley stood in only ten minutes ago when she'd walked into the room to see him face down on the bed, Tracy next to him.

OKAY! Please don't hate me! I know it's SUPER short! I'll try to have an update by at least not this coming Monday, but the following Monday! Hope you enjoyed this peek into what's coming and will review! Thanks!