Eleven Months Later.

''Go, go, quick.'' she whispered urgently, throwing his t-shirt in his face. ''They can't know you're here!''

Nathan quickly slipped the t-shirt on, opening the bedroom window. He had become skilled at jumping onto the tree and scuffling down between the house and the big chunk of wood. It didn't mean that he wasn't scared in case a) It went wrong and he fell and died. Or b) Jimmy James caught him.

It wasn't like they had sex (last night anyway, that is), but Nathan sleeps there almost every night and Jimmy and Lydia don't have a clue, seen as he climbs through the window at night and sneaks out early in the morning. But they had woken up late this morning, and Lydia or Jimmy would be coming in soon to 'wake Haley up' or worse, Jamie. He would tell them instantly.

''Just in case I die,'' he breathed, approaching the window. ''Remember that I love you.''

Haley giggled, rolling her eyes mockingly. ''You say that every time, just go.''

After reaching the ground (and yes, not dying), he hurried to his car, hoping that Jimmy hadn't noticed that it had been there all night. He drove out of the driveway quickly, stopping at Clay's house to get changed, then driving back to Haley's so they weren't late for school. They still had their tradition of walking (even on rainy days, but Nathan liked those better, those were the days they'd sometimes make out on the way home as the water soaked them), but Nathan left his car at Haley's house so he didn't have to walk home everyday.

He bounced up the steps, knocking on the front door.

The door opened almost immediately, his girlfriend on the other side, wide eyed.

''He knows!'' she hissed.

Nathan grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the house and down the porch steps. He smiled when he heard her giggles behind him as they ran down her street, further and further away from Jimmy James who would probably call one of Haley's brothers to attack him (it has almost happened before), or even do it himself with a baseball bat. Sure, Jimmy James was pretty cool. But he wouldn't appreciate Nathan staying over for the night- he's already made that clear.

When they were a block away, Nathan stopped, grinning at her breathlessly.

''Good call,'' Haley panted, lifting her hand up for a high five.

He slapped her hand, chuckling. ''How did he find out?''

Haley scrunched her face up in mock confusion. ''Your car was in the drive way all night, that made it not difficult to figure out.'' she shrugged. ''He's kinda pissed, and I think he and my mom tried to give me The Talk before you arrived. But if you avoid the house for while then you should be okay.''

''Nice,'' He took her hand in his, starting to walk again.

They didn't have to worry about being 'caught out' anymore, because three weeks and five days into their relationship, they had decided to Lucas. Nathan's relationship with his brother had been improving greatly each and every day; they had put aside their differences and decided to give their friendship a shot. Haley couldn't take lying to him any longer, so she told him. Lucas had been angry because of the lies, and he had not spoken to them for days.

But then Nathan went to visit him...

He knocked on the front door, sighing over the fact that he had to do this in the first place. Nathan thought that Lucas liked him, he thought that he would trust him with Haley. It was offensive. Well, he didn't have to do this; he just couldn't bear Haley's sulking any longer, so he had decided to put a stop to it.

The door opened, and Lucas leaned against the doorway, his arms folded across his chest with a blank expression on his face. ''Yes?''

''Listen,'' Nathan began with another agitated sigh. ''You're her best friend, she didn't want to hurt you. She hated me in the first place because of you. But she knows I'm not that bad guy anymore and so do you. She's- she's the kindest person I know. And if you asked her to, she'd probably break up with me. But please don't make her do that,'' he pleaded. ''Because she's the only person who believes in me, and I can't lose her. So, even if you don't forgive me for keeping it from you, then at least forgive her, she's pretty lost without you right now.''

And without another word, Nathan offered a small smile before turning and walking down the porch steps.

Nathan glanced down to the item in her hand, frowning once he did so. ''Who's the gift for?'' He looked strangely at the fancy packaging. He didn't remember anyone's birthday coming up...

''It's Brooke and Julian's one year anniversary.''

''Wait,'' His eyebrows raised. ''We have to get them a gift for that? It's not an achievement!''

''It kinda is these days,'' she shrugged, smiling up at him. ''Don't worry, I signed it from both of us. And guess what? It's our one year anniversary in a month.''

Nathan scoffed. ''I already knew that. And I'm gonna get you the best gift ever.''

The truth is, he had no idea what to get her.

Whoops.

''Really?'' Haley drawled, wiggling her eyebrows playfully. ''Oh! Does it involve chocolate?''

''I said I'm going to get you it, not that I've actually bought it yet.''

''Oh,'' she pouted. ''Well, I still have no idea what to get you.''

''You don't have to get me anything.''

''Everyone says that, but they really mean that they don't want to sound rude, but they do really want the person to get them something.'' She shrugged. ''So you should just tell me what you want now before I buy you a crappy gift and you 'loose' it.''

''I honestly don't want anything,'' he said... honestly. As cheesy as it sounded, her being is was a gift in its own.

Haley rolled her eyes, elbowing him in the ribs weakly. ''Crappy gift it is then,''

Nathan brought his hands up to his lips and kissed it softly. ''Fine.''

The two walked through the school gates, heading to the direction of the quad where their friends were sat. When Nathan and Lucas became friends, Peyton also started to get close to Nathan's group of friends. She had started talking to Brooke and they had become friends, their feisty attitudes combining and turning into something magnificent. So now the trio of blondes sat on the table with the 'cool kids'.

It was quite strange, actually, that they sat together, a group of four couples.

None of them had broken up, not even once.

(Well, there was that time when at Clay's party at his beach house when Lindsey got drunk after Jake admitted he was in love with her, because she was totally freaked out that he felt the same way, and scared from what he expected of her. Anyway... she had pounced on Lucas, attacking him with kisses, right when Peyton walked in).

(...It had taken weeks of Lucas' mom's cookies and endless apologies, even though it wasn't his fault, for her to forgive him).

''Happy anniversary,'' Haley said in a sing song voice, not noticing how it wow-ed people, as she placed the small box in front of the couple, who were both looking at each other all lovey-dovey like.

Brooke clapped her hands together excitedly with a squeal. ''Ooh, thanks Haley.''

Nathan coughed loudly as he sat down. ''And Nathan, too.''

''Thanks Nate,'' Julian said, chuckling as he girlfriend ripped off the bow and wrapping paper.

Brooke pulled out the two small tickets, squinting to read the words on them.

''It's for this eighties movie night,'' Haley informed them, quite proudly. ''They're showing back-to-back eighties movies at the theatre, but it's like fancy dress too, and there's a party afterwards with free food. It sounds pretty cool. There's like, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles and G-''

''Grease 2.''

Nathan chuckled at Julian's awe struck voice and expression ''That's Julian's favourite movie,'' he informed his girlfriend.

''I bought me and Nathan tickets too, so you won't be alone. It could be like a double date thing.''

Brooke grinned at the girl in front of her. ''Thanks Haley,'' she sent a glare in Clay and Sara's direction. ''My best friend and her idiot boyfriend forgot.''

''Dude, even I remembered. How could you guys forget?''

Haley sent him a look then, as if to say don't start gloating or I'll tell everyone the truth.

He nodded, a silent noted.

''She didn't even tell us!''

''I told you nine times! Yes, I counted because I knew you guys would forget. But you don't forget your stupid chocolate ritual, do you?''

Nathan glanced at Haley cautiously, and she mirrored his look.

''Hey guys,'' Lucas and Peyton approached, the curly blonde carrying an envelope. ''Happy anniversary.''

Their eyes widened at the look on Brooke's face. She had been friends for Lucas and Peyton for a while, and even they got her a gift. But Clay and Sara who have been friends with her for years forgot, that really hurt the brunette. She knew it wasn't that important, but her other friends thought it was, so why didn't two of her best friends? Nathan could practically read her thoughts through the emotions playing across her face.

''I have to, err, go to the tutor centre to... Bye!'' Haley quickly shot out of her seat, scurrying away from the table to escape Brooke's blow out.

''And I have to... help her.''

Haley giggled at him when he caught up with her. ''I kinda feel bad for Lucas and Peyton now, poor Brooke.''

''She has our- your awesome gift to be grateful for. And how come you didn't tell me that you got us tickets?''

''I was going to tell you later, do you wanna go?''

Nathan nodded. ''I've not really watched many - any, really - eighties movies, so it could be pretty cool. Especially if there's a party afterwards.''

She smiled, the knock-the-air-out-of-your-lungs one. It sometimes surprised him how she still had this effect on him. But then he guessed that that was what love is, loving someone so much that everything they do causes a little reaction inside. Like butterflies, or an electric shock- but in a good way.

He swung their arms in between them as they walked home for, like, the hundredth time. And he didn't mind, because she was right beside him, her fingers laced with his.

It was something that he never wanted to change.

Because... well, because...

''I love you.''

Haley looked at him, stunned for a moment before beaming. She stopped walking and threw her arms around his neck, standing on her tip toes so they were almost at eye level. Her lips pressed onto his hungrily as she pressed herself close to him, and he felt all those familiar feelings swirling in his stomach as she did so, his mind started to go a little cloudy with emotion.

She tore her lips away, the same smile still on her face. ''I love you, too.''

He was the one to kiss her this time.

''I think it'll be good. I don't get why Julian likes Grease 2 that much, though, even Brooke said it didn't compare to the first.'' Haley's voice broke him out of his thoughts as she shrugged. ''But I don't know, I've never seen it.''

''Cool,''

He glanced along the posters on the wall, all advertising prom which is in a month's time. The nominees for prom king and queen were also being decided tomorrow, and Nathan didn't even have a date. He presumed it would be Haley, but he felt a little silly asking her considering she's his girlfriend, but he doesn't know for sure.

She put in her locker combination, swinging the door open. Haley ruffled around in it, searching for something he couldn't see. She then pulled out a flower, a rose, to be exact.

''I thought you were allergic...''

''It's fake,'' she assured him with a smile, handing it to him. ''It's for you.''

Nathan frowned, taking it from her monotonously. ''Wh-''

''Nathan Scott,'' Haley interrupted him, the knock-the-air-out-of-your-lungs smile on her face.

(And yep, it did).

''Prom's a month away, and I was wondering if you wanted to go...'' she trailed off, smirking. ''With... me.''

He gaped at her, stunned.

''Prom,'' he finally blurted out. ''It's... it's a month away.''

''So?'' Haley repeated sharply, tensing at the subject.

She doesn't have a date? He wondered hopefully, yet surprised at to why the hell not.

''And I was wondering if you would want to go...'' he trailed off. ''With... me.''

His heart was hammering in his chest over the fact that she had remembered his words from the first time, and the flower (although this version was a fake one) from the second. He grinned at her, grabbing her waist and bringing her close to him.

''You know,'' he said. ''I think I might have to get back to you on that one.''

Haley slapped his chest weakly, her cheeks red. ''Nathan...''

Nathan interrupted her with a soft kiss on the lips. ''Kidding.''

It looks like 'Operation Get Haley James to go to Prom With Nathan' was a success, after all.

The End.

AN: So, uh, yeah, it's over. I'm going away tomorrow but if you want a preview of my new story, just let me know in your review and I'll send it you once I've wrote the first chapter(:

Thanks so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!

So, was this last chapter okay? x