Mistakes We Knew We Were Making

AN: Sorry, I really did plan on getting better about updates… but the excuse of the week is that I'm working 40+ hours a week and taking a few classes, so I wake up, go to work, go to class, get home and pretty much pass out… I will try to be better. Honest. And to make up for it, here's a LONG update.

Summary: He just lost his father. He and his family go to his cousin's for the summer to get away. That's where he meets her. Let's just say things are all about to change...

Disclaimer: All songs are credited to Mae. I own none of these characters or anything associated with One Tree Hill or Mae, just my idea.

Write it in a letter
But the words don't come out right
Trying to explain how nobody can do me like
You don't understand how helpless I can get
Since the day that we met
Oh can you feel it yet?
It's never been more perfect being alive
I've never been so satisfied. Oh...
I could feel something different for the first time
Heaven made sense and all the words rhymed
No chance of stopping now. I'm taking it all
And now I'm caught in the air, its a good glide
Pass it up, wouldn't dare what a wild ride
I remember being ready and waiting to fall
Just like I did tonight.

It had been a week since Nathan left Tree Hill. He and Haley had talked at least once every single day, generally for hours on end. He looked over at Peyton, whose hands were interlaced with Jake's as she stood in front of him. They stood in awe watching the sky. He looked down at his youngest sister, her eyes gleaming, her stare focused on the fireworks overhead. He scooped her up and put her on his shoulders. She giggled, and then spoke.

"I like the really big ones. They make it feel like your heart is exploding with happy feelings".

"I agree, Jen. They're the best," Nathan said as he snapped a picture of the fireworks with his camera phone.

Haley was out on the beach with Lucas, Brooke, and some others from school as they all set off fireworks around a giant bonfire. Her phone started going off in her pocket. One multimedia message received. It was a picture of fireworks from Nathan. "Wish you were here," It read. She smiled before tucking the phone back into her pocket and continuing on with the party.

It was just past one and Haley was getting into bed, a few days after the Fourth of July. She reached for her phone that sat on her nightstand and dialed Nathan's number that she learned all too quickly. After five rings, it went to voicemail.

"Hey guys, it's Nathan. I can't answer my phone right now so leave me a message. Beep".

"Hey, it's me. I guess you're still out with Jake. Give me a call when you get this".

Haley rolled over and drifted off to sleep. Some time later, her phone began ringing. She reached over to her nightstand to grab it. Glancing at the screen, she read "Nathan" and saw his picture flashing.

"Hello?" She said in a tired voice.

"God, your voice sounds so hot when you answer the phone like that".

"What? Halfway asleep because it's…3:24 a.m.?"

"Well you do. Do you want to call me back in the morning?"

"No, I'm awake now. How was Jake's?"

"It was fun. We played some basketball and just hung out".

"Oh, sounds fun," Haley replied.

"What did you do tonight?"

"Hung out at Brooke's, went in her hot tub, just kind of chilled".

"I'm jealous".

"Yeah, the hot tub was pretty nice".

"Not of that, of Brooke," he said.

"Why Brooke? Oh wait, hot tub, bikini, yeah got it". Nathan just laughed in response.

"Hey," Haley said, "It's after 2 am. That means I'm not completely aware and deserve the occasionally slow moment".

"I miss you," Nathan said.

"I miss you, too…" After a short pause, Haley continued, "So tell me what you did today?"

"Well I dropped Jenny off at camp at 9:00 and then went and ran some errands for my mom. Then I had to go register for classes. After that…"

Nathan continued talking as Haley "mmhmm"-ed through it.

"…And then I went to Jake's house. I think that's about it. What about you?"

There was no response, except for the quiet noise of soft breathing.

"Hales?"

Still, no response.

"Goodnight my Hales. Sweet dreams," Nathan said in a whisper before hanging up the phone.

The next morning, Haley woke up to her phone still tucked under her ear, still open. She tried to remember finishing her conversation with Nathan, but couldn't. That is when she realized she fell asleep on the phone with him. "Man," she thought, "I could get used to falling asleep to his voice."

"Hey," Haley said in a flustered voice as she flipped open her phone and tucked it in between her shoulder and ear.

"Hey, you sound busy. Do you want to call me back?" Nathan asked.

"Um… no it's cool. I'm just packing up some stuff in my room. We're trying to mail off a few boxes at the end of the week".

"We'll that's exciting," Nathan replied.

"Yeah. I can't believe in two weeks I'll be in California. It seems unreal".

"The summer really has flown by".

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I mean can you believe it's been almost two months since you were down here?"

"It seems crazy".
"It does, doesn't it? So are you excited about Lucas coming to visit tomorrow?"

"I'd be more excited if you were coming too," Nathan said in reply.

"You know I would if I could. What's the chance it's the one weekend my sister decides to come home all summer."

"I understand. I just wish I got to see you".

"I know the feeling".

"Well hey, I've got to go pick Jenny up so I'll let you go".

"Okay. Tell her hi for me," Haley said.

"Will do. Call me tonight?"

"Of course. Bye"

"Bye babe"

Later that night, Haley was over at Lucas's house. They had just watched three movies in a row and it was now well into the night.

"So exactly what time is it?" Haley asked, tiredly lying on the couch.

"2:30," Lucas said.

"Shoot. I should get home".

"Hales, it's too late for you to be on the road. You know I don't like when you drive when you're tired, even if it's only the five minutes home".

"Fine, I'll stay here. But I get your bed".

"I don't know if Brooke would…" Lucas started before he was cut off by Haley.

"Oh, ew, Brooke in your bed. Okay no, I'm sleeping on the couch."

"Okay, I'll grab you a blanket".

"It's okay. I got it. You going to bed too?"

"No, I still have to pack. We're leaving for the airport at 9:00 so I want to be ready to go tonight".

"Damn it! I forgot to call Nathan".

"Are you guys still talking a lot?"

"Practically everyday".

"Oh cool. Well get some sleep. I'll see you bright and early."

"Night Luke."

"Sweet dreams".

Haley decided to text Nathan to apologize about forgetting to call. A few minutes later, Nathan's phone started to vibrate on his night stand. He tiredly picked it up and flipped it open. One message received.

"Sorry I forgot to call. Luke and I were hanging out. Talk to you tomorrow. Gnite babe"

He responded, "It's okay. Good night. XOXO".

The next day, Nathan and Peyton drove to the airport to pick up Lucas for his short, 2 day stay in Michigan. They were pulling up to the pick up area when Peyton's phone rang.

"Hey Luke, we're pulling in now".

"Okay, we just got off the plane. We'll be down in a few minutes".

"Okay, see you then".

Peyton shut her phone before telling Nathan Lucas had arrived. Shortly after, Nathan's phone began to ring as well.

"Hello?"

"Hey, what are you up to?" Haley said.

"I'm at the airport waiting for Lucas".

"Oh, yeah he should be landing about now".

"Just did."

"Good".

"Oh, wait," Nathan said, "I think I see him".

Haley began to laugh. Nathan got out of the car to greet Lucas and almost dropped his phone.

"Hales!" Nathan yelled, shutting his phone and enveloping her in a hug, lifting her off the ground.

"Wow, I feel special," Lucas said, giving Nathan a manly hug after Nathan let go of Haley.

"Sorry man. How did you? When did? I thought…" Nathan stumbled.

"We lied. I knew how badly you wanted to see Haley, so she had to come. But we thought it'd be more fun this way".

"And it was," Haley added before giving Peyton a hug. "Thanks for keeping our secret, Peyt."

"You knew and you didn't tell me?!" Nathan asked his younger sister.

"Yep".

"Who else knew?"

"Pretty much everyone but you".

"Oh, thanks".

"Hey, I'm here aren't I?" Haley asked.

"You're here. You're actually here," Nathan said, before enveloping her in another hug.

The ride back to the Scott household was quick. The guys talked sports and Peyton and Haley caught up in the 15 minute drive to the house. Lucas and Haley got settled in Nathan's and Peyton's rooms respectively before rejoining Nathan and Peyton for a night out. The four, along with Jake, were going out to dinner and then going to a club.

Dinner was pleasant, and Haley was having a lot of fun hanging out with Nathan. Nathan still hadn't gotten over the shock of Haley's surprise. The five had a great time at the club, all taking turns dancing with one another. Peyton, Jake, Nathan, and a few friends that they had met up with were out on the dance floor while Lucas and Haley took a break.

"Water?" Lucas asked as he placed two glasses of water down at the table and joined Haley.

"Thanks," She replied, "So are you having fun tonight?"

"Yeah, I missed it here. What about you?"

"It's been fun".

"You know, I saw you and Nathan kiss earlier."

"Yeah…" Haley said while blushing.

"So what's going on with you two?"

"I don't really know," Haley replied.

"Well, I'd figure it out before you left. Talk to him, tell him how you feel".

"Yeah, I suppose".

"Now, you ready to hit the dance floor again?"

"Sure, why not".

It was the night before Haley and Lucas were headed back to Tree Hill. Their flight was in the early morning and so they were spending their last night hanging out with Peyton and Nathan. Peyton and Lucas went over to Jake's house so Lucas could say bye to him, leaving Haley and Nathan with a chance to talk.

"What's on your mind?" Nathan said as Haley laid on his stomach.

"You"

"All good thoughts, I hope."

"Can I ask you something?" Haley said

"Well, you just did. But ask another."

"What are we doing?"

"Right now, we're laying around and talking…"

"Nathan, I'm being serious. You know what I mean".

"I really don't, Hales".

"Look, I like you, okay? I like you a lot. But what are we doing? I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't know when I'll see you after that. I just… I just need to know where we stand," Haley said, sitting up and facing Nathan with tears in her eyes.

"Hales, you know I feel the same way…But we're in two different places in our lives. Not to mention we're a thousand miles apart. This just can't be anything."

Haley nodded, with tears now flowing out of her eyes.

"If there was a way, I'd make it work, Hales. I really didn't mean to hurt you. I never would do that," Nathan said, as he softly rubbed her back trying to calm her down.

"I know that," Haley said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Let's just have a good last night, hang out one last time."

"Sounds perfect."

Haley and Lucas left the next morning, but not before Haley and Nathan shared one last kiss. Nathan and Haley continued to talk every night, just as before, as if nothing had been said. When Nathan got into a fight with his mom, he called Haley. As Haley left for California, she called Nathan crying just after she said bye to Lucas. Some things were different, but they were far from over.

Haley had adjusted fairly well to life at Stanford. She missed Lucas and Brooke terribly, but they had gotten on a regular phone schedule and talked almost everyday. Lucas had made plans to go visit Haley on a long weekend he had towards the end of September. This had Haley incredibly excited. She had made some good friends at school, but none of them were her best friends.

Nathan and Haley had begun to talk progressively less after Haley arrived at college. Haley was busy getting adjusted and starting classes. Nathan was trying to balance taking care of Jenny, working, and taking some classes, finding himself with little time to do much else.

Song Credit: Mae- Ready and waiting to fall

Next Chapter: Breakdown