Disclaimer: I don't own anything here except my ideas

This takes place after With Arms Outstretched, when Peyton tells Lucas she wants to be with him but Brooke is already in his room. Currently the couples are Nathan and Haley, and Lucas and Brooke. The latter is subject to change. There was no car accident but Deb and Dan are still getting a divorce. Everything else is still the same.

Chapter One

Ordinary Day

"Hey Luke, are you still here?" Haley called from the doorway of Lucas Scott's house.

"Yeah Hales, I'm in the kitchen. You might want to come in. I'll be a few more minutes." Lucas answered.

"Well you better hurry up", she said as she headed towards the kitchen.

"Wow!" Haley commented on Lucas's disheveled appearance. His blond hair was in disarray and bags dragged down his eyes. The only part of him that was presentable his clothing, thanks to Karen.

"I know I look horrible. I had a late night.", he responded to Haley's statement.

"With Brooke?" She inquired.

"I won't even comment. Your innocent ears couldn't take it." Luke stated sarcastically.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked slightly insulted.

"You and Nathan haven't...been together, have you?" He asked sounding concerned.

"Lucas Scott!", Haley reprimanded, "That's none of your business."

"You better not have." Lucas stated sounding like a protective brother. In reality he was trying to protect his best friend from his brother.

"This prude comment comes from the mouth of the guy whose activities with his girlfriend are so crude that they cannot be expressed." Haley shot back.

"All right, all right I give up. Just don't bring up last night. It reminds of all the sleep that I didn't get last night." He confessed.

Just as they walked out the door Lucas added, "If you guys have then I will have some major beating to do today."

"Lucas." Haley warned once more. Lucas acquiesced with a sigh.
They arrived at school a short while later and parted ways. Haley had spotted Nathan at his locker and her eagerness to see him was repulsive to Lucas. For a second he pondered about his disapproval of their relationship until he was interrupted by the sound of Brooke's voice.

"Hey Lucas!" She called from the end of the hallway. He headed over to greet her.

"You look like you missed out on your beauty sleep." Brooke joked.

"No thanks to you." Lucas answered.

"Mmm" She sighed; "we did have a workout last night didn't we. I especially liked the part when you-" Lucas kissed her; the only way he could guarantee that she would forget what she was about to say. Their night together was not something he wanted to share with the crowd of people in the hall.

"What was that for?" Brooke asked with a grin spreading across her face.

"For being so beautiful." Lucas responded and took her hand to lead her to class.

Meanwhile at Nathan's Locker

Haley approached Nathan's locker and leaned up against the locker next to him trying to look as tempting as possible. Nathan closed his locker and turned to find her behind him. A smile stretched across her face.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" Nathan inquired; "you are usually still half-asleep in the morning."

"Seeing you makes me forget I woke up at 6 am this morning." Haley replied.

Nathan leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. Haley yearned for another deeper, more passionate kiss to follow. Nathan did as well, but he knew the bell was about to ring any second. This new sense of responsibility and eagerness to do well in school were traits still new to Nathan. Haley had taken on new characteristics too. Never would she have thought she'd risk being late to class to kiss one of the most popular guys in school.

"Class is gonna start soon." Nathan stated.

"Yah, you're right. Let's go." Haley said as she grabbed her books from her locker. They intertwined their fingers and headed to class.

Haley walked into AP English and scanned the room for a seat. Lucas had an empty seat next to him but she was still annoyed at him because of the stunt he tried to pull earlier that morning. Haley decided to take the seat next to Peyton in the back of the room. She didn't feel bad about leaving Lucas because Jake walked in moments later and sat there.
Peyton gave Haley a half-hearted smile and went back to resting her head in her hands. Haley knew there was something wrong and questioned her. Peyton shook her head and gave her a look of exhaustion. Just as she was about to comfort her when the teacher began class. He started off by announcing that the class had an assignment on the book they had just finished reading, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. They would be writing an essay on the symbolism and themes of the novel. There was a sigh from the class but he went on to say that he was in a good mood and they would be working with partners.

The teacher assigned Haley to work with Jake and Lucas to work with Peyton. Ever since Lucas started dating Brooke Peyton was not the same. Haley knew that as much as Peyton tried she couldn't get Lucas out of her head. This would be an interesting project. Before Haley left class to meet Nathan she heard Lucas say to Peyton "Okay, your house Saturday at seven then."