I want to make one thing very clear....

Nathan Scott IS Haley James Scott's best friend.

I have no problem with people calling Lucas her best friend (if we exclude Nathan from the conversation) but Nathan is her best friend.

Everyone likes to act like Lucas ignoring Haley in later seasons is so out of character and maybe that's true. But this is the canon of the show whether you like it or not. This is the canon we have to work to with. There is no way that Lucas who ignored Haley and canonically never called her in later seasons was her best friend (how sad would that be if your best friend treats you that way). Haley writes to him and we have no indication that he ever wrote back. In fact in season 9 when Haley does see Lucas she says this "You don't write. You don't call." Thus canonically proving he's been a shitty friend. Who was there for Haley while she was depressed and suicidal? It was Nathan. Who was there cheering her on during her successes? It was Nathan. And I get some of that was just necessary because the actor left the show. But there is no reason he couldn't have written or called. This was a decision made by the writers and like it or not it proves that Nathan is Haley's best and most consistent friend.

Before ya'll get mad at me. Ask yourselves why it's a problem if Nathan is her best friend? A girl can have multiple best friends. It doesn't change that there's a pecking order... that some friends may be even better than others. And isn't that what you want? Your significant other to be your best friend? Isn't that best case scenario?

Don't get me wrong... I adore Lucas and Haley's friendship but she deserves that her best friend be there for her consistently. In fact, I would say that Haley and Brooke are better friends than Haley and Lucas. It goes 1. Nathan and Haley, 2. Haley and Brooke, and 3. Lucas and Haley 😁💕