Chapter 1: Secrets

Tell me what you want to hear

Something that will light those ears

Sick of all the insincere

I'm gonna give all my secrets away

This time, don't need another perfect lie

Don't care if critics ever jump in line

I'm gonna give all my secrets away

OneRepublic, Secrets

"Brookeeee!" Haley James whined to her best friend when she entered another store. They had been shopping all day and Haley James was exhausted. This was probably their tenth store. Tonight was Haley James' 21st birthday, and everyone was very excited. Haley was the youngest from their group of six, so she was the last one to turn 21. Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott, and Nathan Scott all grew up in the same town as Haley, but it wasn't until Lucas joined the basketball team that they all became fairly close. And once college had started, Brooke met her boyfriend Julian Baker and they all became the inseparable six. They were always together after Haley moved back to Tree Hill.

Brooke Davis skipped into the store, leaving an unwilling Haley to follow her, "If you want to look hot tonight, you need to come in here with me, H. James."

Haley stood in front of the mirror after being coerced into trying on another outfit. She smoothed her hand down the dress thinking back to the moment everything changed for the group of friends.

"Lucas?"

Lucas turned his head to see his best friend Haley standing in his doorway. He pushed his tie up and smiled at her, "What are you doing here?"

"First I'm saving you from that tie," Haley brushed past Lucas, grabbing a different tie for him.

Lucas chuckled watching her, "You're always saving me from an ugly tie, Hales."

Haley swung the tie around her neck and began to tie it for him, she nervously glanced up at Lucas, "There's something else."

"Okay…"

"Well you remember when I came here and told that I liked Nathan?"

Lucas slowly nodded his head, pushing back the screaming thoughts in his head. He could remember the day perfectly. It was similar to this one. He was dressing himself for a basketball banquet at his estranged brother's and cold-hearted father's house. He wasn't going to go, but he wanted to see Peyton. He knew that they didn't seem like the normal couple, but he couldn't get her out of his head. He was already so in-love with her and they hadn't even been on one date.

"Well, we've sort of been dating…"

Lucas felt his heart beat faster and his head spin. He completely forgot about Peyton. He stared at her for a moment, trying to comprehend what Haley was saying, "I thought you just liked him, Haley."

"I did! And then he told me he liked me back and we've just been dating since."

"Since when?"

She knew this wasn't going well. She could tell he was getting angrier and angrier. When she envisioned telling Lucas, she knew he wouldn't be happy with it, but she just assumed he would get over it and be happy for her. Haley glanced up to the ceiling as if doing calculations and looked back at Lucas, "About two weeks."

"And you didn't tell me?! I'm not okay with this, Hales."

"Lucas-."

"No, let me speak. He's a bad guy, Haley. He's only going to end up hurting you… and… I forbid it."

That definitely wasn't something she was expecting. He's her best friend, he's supposed to have her back no matter what. Haley stared at him, and then quickly narrowed her eyes, "You forbid it? You're not my father, Lucas. I can date whoever I want."

"Not Nathan. I mean it, Hales. If you date him, our friendship is over."

Haley ripped the tie off her neck, flinging it on his bed, "You're making me choose?!"

Lucas couldn't believe what he was hearing. Nathan? Like Nathan Scott? The brother that tortured him when he joined the Ravens? The brother that didn't acknowledge him at all until he forced him to. The brother that treated Peyton terribly for their entire relationship. He wasn't letting Haley, sweet, innocent Haley get involved with a scum bag like that. He was just going to use her and leave her. Lucas nodded slowly, "Yes, and I'm doing it to do what's best for you."

"What's best for me?" Haley stared at him incredulously; she had no idea what to do. On one hand, Lucas had been her best friend since they were children. He had always been there for her. He heard her complain about her older siblings and she has been like a brother to her since all of her other siblings left the house. He's been her rock. But this isn't the Lucas she remembers. This was an angry, vengeful Lucas. He was blinded by hate for Nathan that he was completely ignoring Haley and her feelings.

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Don't be so dramatic, Haley. Just stop seeing him, it's as simple as that."

"Nothing about this is simple, Lucas. I can't just… stop…"

"You can, and you will."

"And if I don't?"

Lucas stood directly in front of Haley, squinting his eyes at her, "It'll be my turn to make Nathan's life miserable."

Haley scoffed, "You and what army, Lucas? Not trying to sound mean or anything, but Nathan had such an easy time making your life miserable because you were alone."

"But now I'm not. Plus the guys from the Rivercourt would help-."

"You're serious?"

"Very, I mean it, Hales. Stop seeing him."

Haley closed her eyes as she willed back the tears, that day had changed everything. She stopped seeing Nathan, and she barely spoke to Lucas. After a week of begging, her parents agreed to send her off to another school. The move ended up being the worst thing that could have ever happened for Haley and in the middle of their senior year, she came back to Tree Hill.

"Earth to Haley!"

Brooke waved her hands in front of Haley's face, laughing as Haley jumped a little in surprised. Haley smiled towards Brooke, moving her eyes back to the mirror.

"This is perfect, Brooke."

"I know," Brooke smirked towards Haley, "You're gonna look so hot tonight, Tutor Girl. We might even find you a boy."

Haley rolled her eyes, "Lay off it, Brooke. I'm happy."

"You have been with anyone since Dam-."

"Stop, Brooke. I don't need a boyfriend, I'm okay."

Brooke nodded her head, accepting her answer for now. She had Haley grew really close whenever she came back to Tree Hill senior year. Haley had not had a boyfriend since she returned to Tree Hill. Of course, Brooke knew the reasons, but she also knew that it had been almost four years and Brooke felt like she needed to help Haley. She wanted Haley to be happy and happy with herself and sometimes she worried that Haley wasn't letting herself be happy.

Nathan placed his hands on his hips, breathing heavily as he looked back at his brother, "Gonna catch up today, Pucas?"

Lucas stopped beside Nathan, placing his hands on his knees as he hunched over, "When did you get so in shape?"

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and smirked, "It helps to do more than basketball for physical activity."

"Gross, Nate. I don't need to hear about the whores you have sex with."

"They aren't whores."

Lucas shook his head, standing back up and looking around him, "Wanna call it?"

"You're done?"

"I was done all the way back there, Nathan. Plus, I've got to get ready for Haley's big birthday bash tonight. You're coming, right?"

"Of course, you always seem so skeptical of me, Luke."

"It's just so weird that you and Hales are friends."

"Why?"

Lucas shrugged his shoulders, unable to tell Nathan the real reason. Ever since he gave Haley the ultimatum, she's trusted him a little less. Lucas has no idea what Haley told Nathan when she ended things, but he wasn't about to open a can of worms. After Haley left, Nathan and Lucas got closer. Nathan started to show Lucas that he wasn't just a stupid jock who only cared about himself. They had been close friends ever since. They lived together with Lucas' girlfriend, Peyton. And they played basketball together at Duke. They were teammates and they were brothers, something that took them a long time to develop.

"Look, Luke, I know it's weird since me and Haley used to date, but she's my friend. Plus I'm sure I'll find some hot chick to go home with."

Lucas rolled his eyes, nodding his head. The two made their way back to their apartment, walking of course.

Nathan smirked and started following Lucas. He let out a deep breath as he started walking, every day with Lucas felt like a lie, and every time he saw Lucas with Haley or every time he hears him talk about her, he has to resist the urge to punch him in the face. Nathan knows Lucas has no idea what Haley told him, Lucas also has no idea how much Nathan resents him for it.

As the two entered the apartment, they were slightly surprised to see Brooke's face as soon as they walked in. She had her arms crossed over her chest and a frustrated look on her face. The boys entered the apartment slowly and carefully, waiting for Brooke to yell at them.

"You two are so late."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders, "Sue me, Brookie."

"Stop calling me that, Natey! Now, Haley will be in an hour and trust me she will be looking hot. We need to finish getting this apartment decorated and the two of you," Brooke pointed in between Nathan and Lucas, "Let her find a boy tonight, no being protective."

Lucas squinted his eyes at Brooke. She was always pushing him to let Haley have a boyfriend, but Lucas couldn't let that happen. He was too relaxed about the last boyfriend she had and that ended up really hurting Haley. So Lucas shook his head at her, "Not happening, Brooke. I can't let Haley out of my sight."

Brooke stomped her foot on the ground, letting out a frustrated breath, "You're not her guardian. She's 21 years old, and she hasn't been with anyone since she was 17."

"For damn good reasons, Brooke!"

"Lucas, you need to chill. Let her do whatever makes her happy, I mean it."

Lucas stomped off, going to complain to Peyton. Brooke turned her attention towards Nathan, the other boy in Haley's life that refused to let her date.

"Now, how about you? Are you going to leave her alone?"

"Not for a second, Brooke."

"Why? Let her be happy."

"She doesn't want a boy, Brooke. And I'm 99% sure that's exactly what she told you when you told her to find one."

Brooke couldn't hide the shocked look on her face, "How do you know that?"

"Because I know Haley, when she wants to find one, she can. But for now, I'll be her 'guardian' and you'll leave her alone about it, Brooke."

Nathan brushed past Brooke in order to get to his room. Brooke started to respond, but quickly realized it wouldn't make a difference. The Nathan and Haley friendship always threw her off, the fact that they ever stopped dating always made her confused. No one but Nathan, Lucas, and Haley knew what really happened and that was exactly how they all wanted to be.

Nathan closed his door, locking it quietly as he stared at the girl on his bed, "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged her shoulders she grinned towards him, "I just wanted to see you before the madness began."

Nathan moved towards her, meeting her lips in a passionate kiss. Nathan gently pushed her backwards, making her fall on his bed.

"God, Haley. I missed you today."

Haley giggled, staring into his eyes, "You always say that, Nathan."

"That's because it's always true. Lucas was really starting to piss me off today, Brooke too."

"What happened?" Haley ran a hand up his arm, interlocking their hands when they reached.

"Lucas was just continuously questioning why I was even going tonight, saying he didn't 'understand' why or how we were friends. I just want to punch him in the face, just once, Hales."

Haley nodded her head her head slowly. She knows how frustrating it can be for Nathan and she honestly has no idea how he copes with everything. Even though she was still upset with how Lucas treated Nathan, she wanted to protect their relationship. So she gave him a gentle smile and said, "I know, but you can't do that. He doesn't know I told you."

"He should know, he should know everything, Hales. I hate hiding this."

Haley flipped the two of them so she was straddling Nathan; she smiled when she saw his surprised look, "One day, Nathan Scott."

She leaned down to kiss him, when she heard a loud banging at his door. Nathan groaned sliding Haley off of him, peaking out of the door to see an aggravated Brooke Davis. He grew frustrated, knowing that his secret time with Haley was limited and now Brooke was getting in the way of it. He wanted to know what she wanted and she wanted him away from his room as soon as possible.

"What do you want, Brooke?"

"You're supposed to be helping, Nathan!"

"I've got to take a shower, Brooke. You don't want Haley to smell me like this, do you?"

He raised his eyebrows and smirked when he saw her give in. Brooke huffed and turned on heels, muttering about how much of an ass he was. Nathan shut the door quietly, turning his attention back to Haley.

"Where are you going, beautiful?"

Nathan grabbed Haley's arm as he saw her getting her stuff together and heading towards the window. Nathan had insisted on a first floor apartment when him and Lucas were looking for a place off-campus. Lucas fought him on it, but eventually Nathan persuaded him. Nathan and Haley came up with a multitude of reasons for them to live on the first floor, but the two of them knew the real reason was so that Haley could sneak in and out of his apartment without Lucas noticing.

"Brooke's expecting me to be here any moment. Plus, I don't think I can handle seeing you naked."

Nathan smirked, snaking his arms around Haley's waist, "Get in the shower with me."

Haley felt the blush creeping up on her face. They had been sneaking around with each other and having sex for years, but Nathan could still get the blush to creep up on her face, "Nathan, I can't. If I show up to this thing with wet hair, Brooke's going to flip."

"Let her flip. Come on, Hales. I wanna be with you."

Nathan bent down, peppering her neck with kisses before he stopped at her collar bone, sucking gently. Haley closed her eyes trying to find her self-control when she pushed him back.

"Stop it, Nathan! You're going to leave a mark!" Nathan ran his fingers over the spot.

"That's kind of the point, babe."

Haley rolled her eyes as she stood on her tip toes, giving Nathan a quick kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you when you get out of the shower."

Nathan groaned, but he knew the conversation was over. He watched as Haley made her way to his window, smirking as she bent over to pick something up and he saw her underwear. His dirty thoughts quickly ceased when he realized the possibilities, "Hales, is that what you're wearing tonight?"

Haley scrunched her eyebrows together, "Yeah? Why?"

"You can't wear that."

"What? Nathan! This is a beautiful dress."

"And you look smoking hot in it."

Haley squinted her eyes giving him a quizzical look, "And you're point…"

"The guys are going to be all over you, Hales."

"So?"

"So?! That's not acceptable, Hales. Brooke's been all over me and Lucas about letting you find someone."

Haley giggled as she moved closer to Nathan, wrapping her arms around his waist and sighing when she felt his wrap around her.

"I don't care, I know there's only one guy I'll go home with tonight. So instead of thinking about the other guys looking at me," Haley backed away from him, stepping out of the window, "Think about what you're going to do to me later."