Okay, so I really didn't know if I had any intention of continuing "Playing Favorites" when I first started it, but inspiration struck this morning and with a little help - and when I say a little, I mean a lot - of help from Dawn, I came up with this.
So with that said, I'd like to thank Dawnie Marie, my Q, she's a beauty (as is her "Reflections" update, you know, just sayin'). Anyways, hope you enjoy, I do plan on continuing this although I can't guarantee when the next update will be.
Read and Enjoy, Reviews are welcomed, they make my eyes smile.
"So how was the boring married sex last night?" Brooke asked distractedly; flipping through the blouses on the rack in front of her, picking one up and studying it before making a displeased face and shoving it back.
Narrowing her eyes at the brunette before her, Haley smirked. "Well I'll tell you one thing – it was definitely not boring."
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but you have no pre-martial sex to compare it to so you're not the best judge, Tutor-girl."
"Okay seriously, I could really live the rest of my life without having to hear the details of either of your sex lives; boring or not." Peyton shouted from the fitting room, eliciting a giggle from both girls.
"I can't believe you're only going to have sex with one guy – ever." Brooke mumbled distastefully towards Haley.
"Well that's the plan." Haley laughed, shoving a barely-there top in front of Brooke, causing her eyes to light up before her nose crinkled again in disbelief.
"I mean that just...sucks. How many guys have you even kissed?"
"Uh three…"
"Including Chris Keller?" Brooke quirked her eyebrow, doing her best to suppress her knowing smirk.
"Four." The blonde deadpanned with a glare.
"Four…you're only going to have kissed four guys in like, your entire life? That's just wrong." She shook her head in disbelief before turning around to dramatically drape her arms across another rack of clothes.
"P. Sawyer, hurry your slow ass up! I swear sometimes you're a slower shopper than I am!" she wailed, causing the blonde to whisk the curtain of the dressing room aside in astonishment.
"Chill out B.Davis. It's not like we're on a time schedule or anything." Peyton rolled her eyes playfully.
"Oh but we so totally are!" Brooke exclaimed, clapping excitedly as they made their purchase and walked out into the busy mall. "We have to hit all the major clothing stores and the lingerie store for Haley. And then…"
"Whoa, whoa…why are we going to the lingerie store for me?" Haley asked hesitantly, looking over for help from Peyton who just shrugged.
"Um, because if you're only ever going to have sex with one person, the least we can do is make it interesting." Brooke stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, leaving the two girls half expecting a 'duh' to escape her lips.
"Brooke, I already told you, more than once and far too often, Nathan and I do NOT have boring sex!" Haley exclaimed, eliciting a sigh from Peyton and a doubtful look from Brooke.
"Whatever, we're still going and you're still going to get something hot and skimpy to wear for Superstar if and when I decide to let him have you back." Brooke said matter-of-factly.
"Just make sure it's red…I love my girl in red." A deep voice chuckled from behind accompanied by a giggle, causing the three girls to turn around in confusion.
"Tim, did you just giggle?" Peyton laughed.
"How much of that did you hear?" Haley asked Nathan, already feeling the tell tale signs of a blush creeping across her face.
"Enough to know Tweedle Dee over here plans on holding you hostage from me." Nathan said latching onto Haley's hand and pulling her into him; her back resting against his chest as his arms slid tightly across her middle.
"Tweedle Dee." Tim slapped his knee in laughter. "If she's Tweedle Dee, who's Tweedle Dumb?"
"You." The four surrounding him chimed simultaneously, causing his face to drop, if only for a second, before shrugging with acceptance.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" Brooke screeched, glaring at Nathan and the sight of him all wrapped up around Haley.
"Playing monopoly." He deadpanned, rolling his eyes when he got he received a confused glower. "What do you think I'm doing here Brooke? It's a mall, I'm shopping."
"Yes, smart ass I know, but why?" Brooke half demanded, half whined.
"Because I can Brooke, what's the big deal?" Nathan fired back.
"The big deal is that this is girl's day out, Meaning you, and him-" she started, thrusting her finger at Tim accusingly "-although sometimes I wonder- are supposed to be in! Or at least away from us!"
"Brooke, chill out. We didn't even know you were going to be here. I called Nate up to see what he was doing, he said nothing; I suggested the mall so I could get some more cologne." Tim rationalized, reaching out to place a calming hand on Brooke's shoulder but pulled away when her fiery glare switched to him.
"Aww Tim, you can always just borrow my perfume again." Haley joked, causing Tim to grimace and Nathan to laugh at the memory.
"Hardy har har." Brooke bit out, an ever increasing pout settling on her lips. "Haley, can you please detangle yourself from him so we can continue on our way?"
Shaking her head with a soft laugh, Haley slowly pulled out of Nathan's arms, giggling lightly at the dissatisfied groan he let out. "Yes Brooke, let's go." Turning around to face a now pouting Nathan, she rose up on her tip toes and placed a chaste but sweet kiss on his lips. "I'll call you later, love you."
"I love you too. Peyton, make sure Psycho over there doesn't kidnap her." Nathan grunted as he slowly walked away; evil eyeing Brooke who linked arms with Haley and grinned widely. Linking her free arm with Peyton, Brooke continued through the mall, rounding the corner to the lingerie shop before stopping dead in her tracks.
"What in the hell?!?" she practically screamed, stomping her foot in aggravation upon seeing Nathan posted up against the outside wall of Victoria's Secret.
"Nathan, babe, what are you doing here?" Haley questioned, unable to hide the amusement in her voice.
"Well I was thinking I might actually be useful to Brooke's little 'girls day out' plans." He replied, beaming a seemingly sweet smile in Brooke's direction.
"Doubtful." The brunette snorted glaring at Nathan with her arms crossed tightly across her chest.
"No, really. You're going lingerie shopping for Haley right? Well, technically for me cause well, you know…"
"Get to the point Scott." Peyton waved him on with her hand.
"Anyways, I was just thinking, who would be a better judge of what to get for her than I would?" He finished with an innocent smile, causing both Peyton and Haley to burst out in laughter.
"Ooh! Ooh! I'm so down!" Tim exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited child, earning a warning glare from Nathan.
"Down boy." Peyton said through laughter, patting him on the head.
"Go away Nathan. Its girl's day out so Haley is mine for the day. Keep it up and you might not even get her tonight." Brooke threatened, eyeing down the raven haired boy before tightening her grip on Haley's arm.
"You two are ridiculous." Peyton muttered, shaking her head at the challenging stares between her two friends.
"It was a nice try Honey, I commend your efforts and I promise you, they'll be rewarded later." Haley cooed, running her free hand languidly across his shoulder until she felt the tension there diminish.
"Ookay, so on that unnecessary note of married verbal foreplay, let's go." Peyton exclaimed, stepping between the couple. "Nathan, the sooner you let Brooke have her way, the sooner it'll be over, okay?"
Tim laughed. "Is that-"
"Shut up Tim." Peyton bit out, knowing wherever he was going with that would either be stupid or inappropriate. Although knowing Tim, probably both.
"Fine, let's go Tim." Nathan said with one more sorrowful look towards Haley, who blew him a kiss.
"You two are sickening; I think I liked him better when he was drunk and moping all the time." Peyton said with a laugh, eliciting an agreement from the perky brunette who seemed to have completely forgotten she was upset in the first place.
Rolling her eyes at her two friends, Haley walked aimlessly around the store, finding everything to be just a little bit too pink. She stopped when she came across Brooke who had picked up a bottle of flavored body cream and was eyeing it curiously.
"That one doesn't really taste like anything." She said, taking that bottle out of Brooke's hand and replacing it with a brown one. "This one's better, it taste like chocolate." Noticing the questioning smirk on the girl's faces, she shrugged with a coy smile.
"I told you it wasn't boring."
- - -
"Brooke can we please go now?" Haley begged for what seemed the hundredth time. "My feet are killing me and I've already bought way more than I should have. I'm not a seasoned shopper like you are, I have no stamina and I'm pretty sure my stomach is eating itself!"
"Bit dramatic don't you think Haley?" Peyton laughed but plopped down on the bench right beside the whining blonde; rubbing the spot on her arm where the shopping bags had made an indention.
"You two are such wimps." Brooke shook her head condescendingly, looking around the mall to make sure she didn't miss any stores or sales. "Fine, yes we can go. We've got other plans anyways."
"Oh my god!" Haley exclaimed, jumping up and pulling Peyton along with her. "Please tell me it involves food?" She asked excitedly, dragging both the girls towards the parking lot.
"You are a sad, sad person when deprived of food Haley James Scott." Peyton said as they loaded the things into her trunk, pulled out of the parking garage and made their way to Karen's Café.
After having a nice meal and chat with Karen, Brooke directed Peyton to her favorite salon, surprising the two girls with full mani-pedis. As the three of them were laid back, enjoying their foot massages Brooke began discussing the plans for the cheerleaders fundraiser for this year.
"So I was thinking we could do it like carnival style this year, have different games and booths, maybe a few rides, some raffles. What do you guys think?"
"I think it's a great idea B.Davis. Definitely better than the car wash last year." Peyton recalled with a smile.
"Yeah, a car wash in late October, not the best idea; I swear half the squad was ten degrees away from going into hypothermic shock. Who knew none of them would have enough sense not to wear their skimpiest bikini?" she mused before turning to Haley who was texting on her phone, a light smile across her face. "What do you think Hales?" Not receiving any response, Brooke cleared her throat. "Heelllloooo, earth to Tutor Girl?"
"Haley Scott!" Peyton shouted with a nudge.
"Hmmm?" Haley smiled, looking up as if she hadn't missed a thing.
"What do you think?" Peyton asked, rolling her eyes good naturedly at the love-struck look on the petite girl's face.
"Think of what?" she asked with a confused shake of her head.
"Oh good God! A carnival? For the squad's fundraiser this year?" Brooke shrieked, flailing her arms in the air frustrated.
"Oh, oh yeah! I think it's a great idea Brooke! Especially if you have cotton candy and candied apples, you know, real carnival food. Oh! And deep fried snickers! Yummmm. Have you ever had one of those? They're amazing! I swear we totally have to get a deep fryer Brooke! That would be –"
"Good lord girl, is food all you ever think about?" Peyton asked, looking at Haley with wide eyes, causing her to laugh.
"Only on days that end in 'y'." Haley quipped.
Scrunching her forehead in confusion, Brooke turned to the blondes next to her. "Isn't that like, every day?"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it Davis." Peyton chuckled as she watched Brooke's expression change from confused to frustrated as Haley's phone rang out, indicating she had yet another text.
"I swear it used to take that boy 20 minutes to write out his damned ABC's but he gets a text message from Haley and can type out the constitution in like, 10 seconds flat." Brooke grumbled, her glare intensifying when Haley only giggled in response.
"Okay Scott," Peyton started, snatching the phone from Haley's hand and dropping it into Brooke's purse on the other side of the chair. "For the next…however long Brooke has us for the day, there will be no more Nathan. No seeing Nathan, no calling Nathan, no texting Nathan. Okay?"
"What? Why? I was just texting him!" she exclaimed, pouting in the direction of where the phone was placed.
"Yes but its girl's day, Tutor-girl; meaning no boys, at all." Brooke announced proudly. "So, any suggestions for booths or games at the carnival?"
"How about a dunk tank?" Haley grumbled, smiling sardonically at the peppy girl before her.
"Hmm, that could be good. Maybe have them try to dunk the basketball team? Ooo, get it? Cause they like, dunk basketballs?!" Brooke asked excitedly, completely missing Haley's sarcasm or ignoring it on purpose. "Plus, it could never hurt to have such a fine selection of hot boys dripping wet. Maybe we could do strip dunk tank."
"And how exactly would that work?" Peyton laughed, although even she couldn't admit to being completely against the idea; she may be broody, but she sure as hell wasn't blind.
"I don't know, but it sounds delicious…" Brooke pondered, a smirk on her face bringing out mischievous dimple. "Anyways, what else?"
"What about a kissing booth?" Peyton suggested. "Have one for the guys to kiss selected, i.e – not me – cheerleaders and have one for the girls to kiss selected basketball players."
"Oooh, Peyton! I so knew there was reason you're my best friend!" Brooke squealed. "You know how much the girls of Tree Hill would pay to lay one on Nathan Scott?"
"Hey!" Haley exclaimed, gesturing to herself as if to make Brooke realize she was there. "Hello? Have you met me? Last name's Scott? As in, Nathan Scott?"
"Knowing his father that could mean you were his sister." Peyton quipped.
"Okay, ew." Haley groaned; her face screwed up in disgust.
"Yeah, sorry; didn't think that one through."
"Yeah. Anyways, you can't have Nathan at a kissing booth Brooke." She stated defiantly.
"Well Hales, you'll be on the girl's side." Brooke smiled innocently.
"Uh, no, I won't." she scoffed.
"C'mon Haley! It'll be fun!" Brooke encouraged. "It'll be your chance to up the number of people you've kissed in your life!"
Laughing incredulously, Haley turned to the brunette. "Brooke, I am perfectly content with the fact that I have only kissed three –"
"Four." Brooke interjected with a smug smile.
"-four" Haley fumed, "guys in my life. I don't need a kissing booth to boost my ego; I have a husband that will do that for me, thank you."
"Hales!" Brooke whined, jutting out her bottom lip in a pout. "Please, please, please? What's the harm in it?"
"The harm?" Haley laughed. "The harm is that last time a guy kissed me, Nathan damn near knocked him unconscious."
"I'll talk to Nathan about it!" Brooke rationalized.
"Yeah, that'll go over well." Peyton mused.
"No really, you'll see, I'm very persuasive when it comes to getting what I want." Brooke insisted with a smile.
"Brooke you do realize flirting with Nathan isn't going to get Haley to do anything, right?" Peyton asked half-joking, receiving a slap on the arm.
"Come on Hales, let me talk to Nathan. If he agrees, will you think about it? Please?" she begged, batting her eyelashes at the petite girl sweetly.
Collapsing back into her seat, Haley sighed dejectedly. "If you can get Nathan to agree, I'll think about it."
"YAY!" Brooke sang, settling back into her seat with a satisfied smile.
"If Peyton does it too." Haley smiled deviously when she heard Brooke whimper, closing her eyes as she succumb to the calming effect of the massage.
