Hey guys! waves Obviously, this is my new story entitled Sway, which is actually inspired by the song by Bic Runga and a really vague plot that has been in my head for months now. My close friend re-introduced me to that song, and I absolutely fell in love in with it. I actually have no idea why I didn't appreciate it before. As soon as I listened to it, the first thing that popped in my head was Naley.

So I've been writing Collide, and decided to give this one a try. As you may or may not know, I've been debating on two different ideas, but eventually, I ended up writing this. This first chapter was actually written seven or eight times with at least five different versions. You'd be surprised that the finished product of this first chapter took two months to write and complete. I hope you guys like it!

--Sera

Disclaimer: Anything associated to One Tree Hill aside from this story is completely not mine, as much as I want it to be.

" … I say it's all because of you …"

The freezing rain was pouring, soaking them to the bone – the cold wind rushing through the air and stinging their bare skins, but they were practically oblivious to it. Rain had always been a big part of their relationship – it was their "thing" as people would call it. When you thought of rain, you'd think them. Almost every wonderful, significant moment or happening in their relationship had something to do with it. Rain was supposed to symbolize them – their relationship – their love. Well, supposed love now.

It was ironic how now; it was out here in the rain that everything ended.

"I need to know you feel the same way." She whispered, her voice so small and hoarse from endless nights of crying herself to sleep, praying – hoping – wishing none of it ever happened. Wishing … wishing she had never agreed to any of this in the first place. But he had been so handsome, and charming – and she loved the thrill that ran through her spine whenever he flashed her that trademark sexy smirk of his, the butterflies in her stomach when he said her name – the way he could effortlessly get under her skin. It was practically impossible for her not to agree to anything he said.

His intense blue orbs that were always full of mischief were empty – unreadable. She thought she could read him like a book – she thought she knew him well enough to know how to. Her heart shattered into pieces when all she saw was emptiness – helpless and so unsure of what to say or do. He opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. His heart ached when he saw tears fill her gorgeous, brown eyes.

"Why can't you say anything?" She begged him, tears spilling down her cheeks, mixing with the rain that pattered on her skin. "Didn't it mean anything to you? Didn't anything between us mean anything to you?"

A helpless sob escaped her lips when she didn't hear a response. She held up a trembling hand to her mouth, in the hope of stopping it but she couldn't as more sobs came out. "I can't believe this. I can't believe you could just stand there and act like you don't care. I thought that after everything that happened between us, it could have meant something to you – just enough for you to say something, but you couldn't even bring yourself to do it."

Finally, he seemed to have found his voice as he tried to approach her. "Haley –"

She shook her head, taking steps back away from him. "Oh, so now he speaks! Well you know what, it doesn't even matter anymore. I don't want this – not anymore – not after now. I've had enough. I'm tired of trying to be the girl you want me to be. I'm tired of chasing after you, constantly changing myself to satisfy you – to make you happy. I'm tired of being a cover-up for someone. And I'm tired of pretending and hoping that it's me in your heart instead of someone else. It's over."

For the first time that night, he spoke with a voice filled with frantic panic. His fingers curled around her wrist as he tried to pull her back. "No, Haley – no, please. Always and forever, Haley – remember?"

Her eyes were ablaze with a new fire, filled with anger and her voice was unnaturally cold as she whispered, "That was a lie Nathan, and you know it. It was always a lie. You made it a lie."

And with that, she was gone – gone from his life. Gone from the lies.

"Hey Hales, are you ready to leave?" A voice asked from behind her.

Twenty-three-year-old Haley James spun around in surprise to see her best friend Lucas Scott standing at her bedroom doorway. She plastered a smile on her face as he pulled her into a hug, a hug she came to love ever since they were little kids. It had always given her a sense of comfort and solitude, especially during times when she felt at her lowest.

Lucas, sensing immediately what Haley was thinking, tightened the hug. "Hey buddy, it's alright. It won't be that bad."

Haley simply shook her head, burying her head into his chest. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, and she tightened her eyes shut to stop them from falling. Her body began to shake slightly as she held her tears back.

"It's okay to cry, Hales. You've gone through so much this past years. You deserve to let it all out once in a while." He told her gently.

Haley pulled back, shaking her head again. Her eyes were wet with tears as she took deep breaths to calm herself down. "No, I won't cry anymore. I've had enough of pining and wanting someone I obviously wasn't meant to be with from the very beginning, and it's time I let go of him."

Lucas smiled patiently at her. He had heard that speech from her so many times but watched her eat her own words when the simplest, littlest things reminded her of the man who broke her heart. And like all those other times, he replied with a sincere and patient encouragement. "I'm proud of you Hales, I really am. I know it's been tough on you, but you're the strongest girl I know. If anyone could get through something like that, it's got to be you."

The truth was that Lucas knew that Haley was only convincing herself that she was alright. He knew that every night, she thought of her first year in Duke University, and that eventful day during enrolment when everything began – and how she had agreed to do something quite beyond her. Of course, Lucas had been against it all. What best friend wouldn't be? But he obviously had a lapse of judgment. There was a lot more to the flirting, playful banter and casual friendship than Lucas thought. His best friend was in love – with the last person he wanted her to be in love with. The craziest part of it all was that her feelings were reciprocated – it was just – expressed differently.

Too differently.

Haley smiled back, squeezing his arm as a sign of thanks. She sighed, looking around. "Would you believe that we actually survived college? We're actually working now. Me and you – middle-class working people. It's just weird. It seems only yesterday that we built clubhouses on trees and threw rocks at passing cars."

"It was yesterday, at least for you, anyway." Lucas teased her.

Haley made a huffing sound and smacked his shoulder, making him wince. "I bet Brooke would think it's hilarious when I tell her that your middle name is Eugene –"

The rest of her words were muffled by his hand clapped over her mouth. "Hey, I thought you promised you would never say that aloud!"

"I never promised I would. I just said I might."

Lucas sighed. "You're one evil, little girl."

"You know you love me, Luke." Haley said in a singsong voice.

"Unfortunately," he muttered as he helped her fold a few more clothes into a bag. "Hales, you know you're best friend and you love to talk about me –" He grinned when she rolled her eyes. "—But could you please not tell Brooke embarrassing stories about me, especially when you're alone with her? I really like her, and I'm trying to make a good impression here."

Haley smiled, playfully elbowing his side. "You always give good impressions, Luke. I just like to make them sound funnier."

Lucas chuckled as he checked his watch. "We better get going if we want to get there on time. We still have to pick up Brooke, her friend Peyton, and her friend's boyfriend, Jake."

"So why am I a third-wheel again?" Haley asked, raising a brow at him.

He put an arm around her. "Because like you so blatantly put it awhile ago, you know you love me."

She shook her head in exasperation. "The things I do for you, really," she slung her bag over her shoulder and waited for Lucas to pick up her other bag. They walked to the car, Haley climbing into the front seat. Her gaze locked on his, and he smiled reassuringly at her.

"He probably wouldn't even be there."

Haley merely nodded, unable to say anything else. She leaned against the door, her eyes scanning the houses and buildings as the car drove on. It seemed only yesterday when they were kids, playing in the streets of Tree Hill. Then they were in Duke, so hopeful of their dreams. And now, here they were – still unsure of what was ahead of them – unsure of what was going to happen next.

They were going back to Tree Hill as a mere month's worth of vacation, but in Haley's mind, she was going back to face her painful past. She was going back to the lies, just like her mind was going back to where it all began.

Liked it? Hated it? Please let me know!