Nathan arrived at Haley's apartment late in the evening for the fourth time that week, his bag slung over one shoulder and his face a mix of exhaustion and frustration. Haley opened the door, her brow furrowing as she saw him.
"Tim throwing another party?" she asked knowingly.
Nathan sighed as he stepped inside. "Yeah. I walked in, and there were five girls and a keg in my living room. I'm not dealing with it tonight."
Haley shook her head and stepped aside to let him in. "You really need to talk to him, Nathan," she said firmly.
"I tried," Nathan muttered as he dropped his bag onto the couch. "He's not exactly the listening type. So here I am—your temporary roommate."
Haley crossed her arms and smirked. "Just don't steal my blankets again," she teased, making him chuckle softly.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through Haley's curtains as she set her coffee mug down with a determined expression. Nathan, still groggy and slouched on the couch, rubbed his face and gave her a suspicious look.
"I've been thinking," Haley began, her tone light but serious.
"That's dangerous," Nathan said, raising an eyebrow.
"Ha-ha. No, seriously," Haley said, leaning forward. "We should throw a party. Your party. Take back your space."
Nathan frowned, clearly unconvinced. "A party? Hales, the last thing I need is more chaos."
"No, hear me out," she insisted, her hands gesturing for emphasis. "We keep it small—just a few friends. You're in control this time. It's not Tim's party; it's yours."
Nathan leaned back, rubbing his chin as he considered her words. "A 'taking back the party' party, huh? You're not bad at this," he admitted.
"Exactly," Haley said with a triumphant smile. "Trust me, we'll make it fun but chill. No kegs, no strangers, and definitely no Tim running the show."
Nathan finally nodded, though his tone was teasing. "Alright. Let's do it. But if it gets out of hand, you're the one kicking everyone out."
Haley grinned as she raised her coffee mug like a toast. "Deal."
Later at school, Haley walked confidently down the hallway, spotting Daisy at her locker. Daisy stood with her usual carefree attitude, her blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail as she rummaged through her books.
"Hey, Daisy," Haley called, approaching her with a casual smile.
"What's up, Hales?" Daisy asked, glancing up with a curious look.
![Dust till dawn[ ONE TREE HILL ]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/251084694-64-k417227.jpg)