Disclaimer: I don't own it but I do plan to work at the studios.
Warning: If you've read me before then you know this is femslash if you haven't SURPRISE!!! Look if you have a problem with then don't read it.
Secrets
By: Musical Schizophrenia or Libby
Haley James had a secret, but not just any secret, she was a lesbian. Now some people don't care about stuff like that, but in North Carolina it's kind of a big deal and generally frowned upon. It's not that she isn't proud of who she is she just doesn't want to lose her friends and family because of it. She also wants to remain relatively inconspicuous.
She knows that if she comes out of the closet that some of her friends, her family, and people she doesn't even know will hate her because of it, and she can't handle that. So in an effort to keep her life as is and to keep everything and everyone she holds dear, she hides. No one knows the real Haley James or so she thinks.
Brooke Davis had a secret, but not just any secret she could read Haley James. Though they aren't friends by a long shot, she will protect her. She had been in class with Haley since kindergarten and has followed her every move for the last few years. Brooke knows her secret and she won't tell a soul.
She knows that it could ruin Haley; she knows that it could cost Haley everything if anyone knew. So Brooke is a secret keeper for Haley even though she doesn't know it. But Brooke has yet another secret one that only Peyton Sawyer knows. Brooke Davis is in love with Haley James and knows that Haley loves her back. All Brooke needs to figure out is how to tell Haley she knows and will never hurt her.
"Brooke you're staring at her again." Peyton informed her best friend or sister in their minds at least.
"I know Peyton but I can't help it she's gorgeous. No one can see the pain in her eyes. She's broken and beautiful."
"Well then go talk to her. You've been watching her since seventh grade."
"I can't Peyton. I don't know what to say."
"She's a tutor your grades suck so ask her to tutor you." Peyton said rolling her eyes.
"Thank you Peyton." She replied smacking her arm.
"Just go."
"Hey Haley?" Brooke asked.
"Hey Brooke can I help you?"
"Um yeah I was wondering if you could help me get my grades up. I mean since you're a tutor and all."
"Sure we'd have to work around my shifts but I can help you if you really want to learn."
"Thank you, Tutor Girl, you won't be sorry. I'll be the best student ever." Brooke grinned.
"Okay I have to work this afternoon but I'm off at seven if you want to go ahead and start." Haley said smiling in return.
"That works for me. I have cheerleading practice anyway. So do you want me to stop by the café when you get off?"
"Yeah … wait how do you know where I work?" Haley asked slightly incredulous.
"It's a small town Tutor Girl. I know where that almost brother of yours works too."
"How much do you know about me exactly?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, Haley. I'll see you at seven." Brooke winked.
"Yeah, bye." Haley said watching bemused as Brooke walked back over to Peyton. "Well that was weird." She muttered to herself.
"Haley, do you mind closing up after your shift?" Karen asked.
"No I don't. So we're closing early?"
"Yeah it was a good day so I figure 'why not?'"
"Do you mind if I tutor someone here tonight?"
"Of course not. I'll see you tomorrow Haley."
"Bye Karen."
"Hey I gotta go, Haley's tutoring me tonight." Brooke told Peyton.
"Are you going to your house or coming back over here tonight?"
"I'm coming back. Victoria's at the house this week."
"Yeah avoid that as much as you possibly can."
"Trust I will. Later, P. Sawyer."
"Later, B. Davis." Peyton waited until she heard the front door close before she said to no one, " She has it so bad it's not even funny. I'm not even sure Haley's switched teams. I just hope no one get's hurt."
"Hey Brooke can you wait while I close up?"
"Yeah no problem. You here alone?"
"Not anymore. Just steal a table, I'll be there in a few."
"Yeah don't worry about it."
"What's giving the most trouble?"
"English, I don't see how I'm failing a language I speak daily."
"Alright we're on Julius Caesar we'll pick up with Act IV Scene III."
"I understand that for the most part once you get the hang of it, it isn't that hard, I'm just having trouble with how it applies today."
"Alright take this and tell me how it applies." Haley started. "' There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads onto fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current as it serves or lose our ventures.'"
"It's about taking opportunities when you can so you won't be left with 'what if's.' Right? And if you don't take those risks and just settle you'll never be truly happy. Always wondering what could have been even if it meant getting your heart broken. You've got to risk everything before you can gain anything." Brooke said looking into Haley's eyes the entire time.
"Yeah."
"You have to step outside of your comfort zone some time. It may hurt like hell, but I swear it will be worth it."
"You aren't talking about Shakespeare anymore are you?"
"No Haley I'm not. I'm going to take a chance now, stop me if you want." Brooke said leaning into catch Haley's lips with her own.
Haley didn't stop Brooke she was finally getting what she longed for she knew that she didn't need to hide anymore.
The kiss was soft and slow neither girl making an effort to speed it up. It was the perfect first kiss. When they pulled back Haley was the first to speak. "How much do you know about me Brooke Davis?"
"Not near enough." Was Brooke's simple reply.
"But my secret…"
"Is the same as mine. Peyton knows about mine, but not yours and no one will. Not until you're ready." She was quick to assure her. "I can read you Haley jams my beautiful broken girl."
"Just don't hurt me okay."
"I could never hurt you Haley, you're my Tutor Girl."
"so do your grades really suck?"
"Yes they do, I'm just not failing English, and like I said I don't see how you can fail a language you speak daily."
"you're on notice Brooke Davis."
"Everyone knows I like to be noticed."
"Funny Girl, what do you really need help in?"
"Pre-Cal and European history."
"Viva la resistance."
"What?"
"Yeah you do need help in history." Haley laughed.
"Hey! That was mean!" Brooke exclaimed. "Kiss it better." She then demand.
"Nope, now let's get started."