Chapter 1(Haley)

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About

I wiped off the messy tables, wishing instead that I could wipe away the memories left over from last night. For lunch Karen's Café had been busy and I'd been able to sink into the crowd's rush and forget about what Nathan had done. Now it all was coming rushing back to me. He'd proven to be exactly the guy that everyone had told me he was. After all the tutoring help that I'd given him, he had betrayed me. Showing that note to everyone at the party and making fun of my growing crush on him was way out of line. He'd come by to apologize last night but I'd turned out the lights and flipped the "Open" sign to "Closed". And I was…there was no way my heart was going to be open to him anymore.

I heard the front bell tingle, announcing another customer. I looked up, hoping to see Lucas there to comfort me but instead I saw Brooke Davis. Bitch, I thought. How dare she come here after what she'd said last night?

I flung down my towel on the table, "We're closed."

She looked around like the dumb cheerleader she was, obviously confused. Her brow furrowed when she saw several people sitting there eating, "But….Oh I get it. Closed to me, right?"

"Yeah, exactly. Guess Nathan wasn't the only person who could use a tutor. Unfortunately I don't tutor the 'How Not to Be a Bitch' class."

She smiled, "You're fiery. I can see why he likes you."

I snorted, picked up the dirty plates, and headed back behind the counter. Sadly enough she didn't take the hint and followed me.

"Haley, I get you're pissed. I was kind of out of line last night."

I shot her a glare. Ya think?

She held up her hands in a placating motion, "But…I'm going to fix it, ok? I need to set my karma straight."

I rolled my eyes. There was no way she could fix this.

Still she kept on talking, "Soooo. I screwed you and Nathan up but I'm pretty sure that I didn't help Peyton and Luke make any headway either. What we need is to catch two birds with one stone."

"Kill…kill two birds with one stone, Brooke. Not catch."

She gave me a confused look, "Why would I want to kill birds? Weird. Whatever." She sat on one of the counter stools and leaned forward, like we were actually having a real conversation, instead of her just blabbing when I wished she'd leave.

"So what can I do to get you, Tutor Girl, back with your Jockey Guy? And Broody back with P. Sawyer…all at the same time."

I shrugged, this really was pointless, "I don't know, Brooke. Maybe you shouldn't have messed with all of us to begin with. Or maybe you should just go Brooke yourself because no one else wants to."

"I totally get your point even though it's a little hostile. Maybe retract the claws, just a smidge and listen to how I'm going to help you guys because I totally just got a brilliant, mastermind sort of plan."

She motioned with her finger for me to come closer and I leaned forward.

Her voice was soft, like she was telling me a secret, "Ok…so everyone gets jealous right?"

I looked over at her strangely. Where the heck was this going?

"You totally need to hang out with some other guy and make Nate jealous. That way when he wants you back…and he will, trust me. He'll treat you with the respect you deserve."

"Brooke! I'm not even sure I want Nathan back (as if I even had him) and I certainly wouldn't hang out with another guy just to piss Nathan off!"

She pouted, "Haaaaalleeey. Why not?"

"Because I couldn't use some guy like that. It might hurt his feelings."

"Oh but you could see yourself making Nate jealous…you don't have any problem with that?"

I shrugged, kind of ashamed. It would be kind of nice to see exactly how much Nathan liked me and how much he would be willing to fight for me. "I guess that part of your plan doesn't really bother me."

She smiled, "Well then…the guy that you use to make Nathan jealous wouldn't get his feelings hurt if he knew what was going on and he agreed to do it."

"Yeah right…who would agree to sort of date me in order to make some other guy jealous?"

Just then the door tinkled again and I saw Luke walking in. He sounded angry as he said, "Ok, Brooke. I'm here even though I don't want to be. What was this 'all important' thing you had to ask me?"

He looked at her. She looked at me, then back at him. He looked at me. I looked at him.

Brooke smiled in the middle of it all. "Tutor Girl meet your new boyfriend…Broody."