Chapter 4: Thinking Out Loud

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand starts

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud

Lucas impatiently taps his foot while Nathan and Haley jumped apart and off of the couch while staring at Lucas. They stole looks at each other while trying to think of something to say.

"Are either of you going to tell me?...Or am I just supposed to start guessing?"

"Lucas, chill. It's not what it looks like."

Haley looks up to Nathan, she was ready to come clean, but it was obvious that he wasn't. She took her lower lip in between her teeth and looked back at Lucas, "I just needed to leave the club and Nathan…"

"What? Nathan was ready to fuck you?"

"Lucas!"

Lucas rolled his eyes as he heard Peyton hiss his name at him, "Am I wrong? Cause it sure looked like it on the couch, I swear to God, Nathan… if you touched her-."

"You'll what, Pucas? It's my life and it's Haley's life, you're not her fucking guardian."

Haley sucked in a breath as she watched Nathan move closer to Lucas, "Just stop! I was upset about that guy on the dance floor and I wanted to get out of there. You were wasted Lucas, Brooke and Julian were having a good time, so Nathan offered to take me home. I just wasn't ready to be alone so we watched a movie and fell asleep. That's it!"

So, maybe she didn't mention the making out and getting to second-base to them, but it wasn't a complete lie. They both wanted to leave and they both wanted to be with each other. Their other friends were drunk and they just honestly weren't thinking about anyone else but themselves.

Brooke pushed in between the angry Scott brothers and enveloped Haley into a hug, "I'm sorry, Hales. I didn't even… I hadn't… I'm sorry."

Pulling back from Brooke's hug, Haley smiled sweetly at her. Now she felt guilty because Brooke was worried. After everything they've been through Haley should have come up with something else, "Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

Brooke narrowed her eyes at Haley, she could always tell when Haley was lying, except this time something felt off. She believed Haley was fine about the loser at the club, but there something else bothering her, Brooke just couldn't… figure… it… out…

"Nathan, will you take me, Brooke and Julian home?"

Nathan nodded his head quickly, reaching for his keys and wallet on the coffee table, "No problem."

Lucas stopped in front of Haley, "I can take you."

Haley pushed Lucas away from her and scoffed, "You reek of alcohol, and I'm not talking to you. I'm not a fucking China doll, Lucas. If I want to have sex with Nathan or anyone else, I can. I'm not your property, and I'm barely your friend right now."

"So how have things been in the Scott apartment?"

Nathan leaned back onto Haley and Brooke's shared couch, "Well, he thanked me for taking out the trash this morning."

"Well that's something."

"I don't know what he wants from me, Hales."

Haley shrugged her shoulders, "Has he said anything to you other than that?"

"In the past five days, all Lucas has done is grumble and brood around our apartment."

"I'm sorry, babe."

"Oh, wait. I take that back. On Monday, I fell asleep on the couch doing some reading and Lucas woke me up by pouring a bucket of ice cold water on my head."

Haley's eyes widen as she stared at Nathan, listening to him casually talk about the relationship between him and his brother crumble within a few weeks. Biting her lip, Haley felt a few tears fall from her face but quickly wiped them away so Nathan wouldn't see.

"Haley."

"Huh? Oh yeah, Lucas is such a jerk."

Nathan chuckled, wrapping his arm around Haley, pulling her into his side, "Yeah he is, but you're crying. What's wrong?"

"It's just… it's nothing."

"Haley Bob James, don't you lie to me."

Blowing out an annoyed breath, Haley muttered underneath her breath, "I'm going to kill Brooke."

"Don't blame Brooke, I would've found out your middle name eventually. Now, just talk to me."

"You and Lucas worked so hard to build a relationship… and I don't want to see it fall apart because of me."

Nathan squeezed Haley's shoulders gently, "The only reason we have a relationship is because of you, Hales. If he doesn't think I'm good enough to be with you, then why do I want him in my life? Isn't that what you're always saying? If he can't accept us, then he isn't worth being in your life?"

Pulling away from Nathan, so his arm falls from her shoulders and she's facing him on the couch, Haley makes wild hand gestures, "That's completely different! He's your blood!"

"Barely."

"Nathan." Haley warned him slowly.

"That's not what I meant; I meant that we barely know each other. You two are basically blood and if he can't accept the two people he claims to care about most being together, then what's the point?"

Before Haley could respond, she heard the key turn in the apartment door lock and watched Brooke bounce in with Julian in tow. Julian was, as usual, carrying all of Brooke's belongings. This time it was the grocery bags, which surprised Haley because Brooke never went grocery shopping unless Haley forced her to go.

"Oh! Hey Tutor Girl… Hot Shot. What are you two lovely people doing?"

"We're just… hanging out. What's up Tigger?"

Julian softly shut the door and went to the kitchen, while Brooke bounced to the coffee table in front of Nathan and Haley, "Well, bestest friend, I was wondering if you could have a girls night with me?"

Haley tried her best not to glance at Nathan to check to see if they had plans, "I don't know, Tigger, I've got a big test next week and I wanted to study some this weekend. And I know if we go out-."

"No going out! An old-fashioned girl's night… cookie dough, ice cream, movies that make us laugh, cry and scream… you know, the classics!"

Brooke smiled a hopeful smile at Haley and a part of Haley really needed it, "Sure, Tigger, why not?"

"That's sort of the spirit! I've already got all the stuff! Is there anything else in particular you'd like?"

"No wonder you went to grocery store without prompting. And since we're adults, do you think we could add some alcohol to our girl's night?"

Brooke raised her eyebrow and smirked, "First of all, that's true. And it's like you read my mind, I already got the booze."

"Is Peyton coming?"

Letting out a huff of annoyance, Brooke narrowed her eyes, "As if. She's too busy taking care Super Broody… speaking of, shouldn't you be there, making amends with your brother?"

Nathan held his hands up in defense, "I'm not the one walking around being a douche to everyone I claim to care about."

"Nathan..."

"What? It's true. And I'm sick and tired of Saint Lucas getting to act like he's been wronged because we fell asleep watching a movie. We're both 21 years old, and he treats us like 5 year olds."

"He's just looking out for Haley," Brooke offered softly.

"I don't need to be looked after!"

"Haley-."

"No! I know what happened to me and I dealt with it… FOUR YEARS AGO. Can't you all just let it go and let me be happy for once?"

Haley sent a pointed look to both Brooke and Nathan and they quickly shook their heads yes, "Good, now I'm going to put on my pajamas and get ready for girl's night. And when I come back, you will be gone."

She pushed a finger into Nathan's chest while getting off the couch and slamming the door behind her. Julian walked into the living room with a sandwich in his hand looking down the hallway of the small apartment, "What'd I miss?"

After a loud roar of laughter, Brooke and Haley settled against the couch. They had been having a great, classic time. It had been a long time since Haley and Brooke had a night to themselves that wasn't bogged down with classwork. Placing her empty ice cream bowl on the coffee table, Brooke turns to Haley, "So, Haley, wanna tell me what's going on with you and Nathan?"

"Wh-what?"

"Don't worry; no one suspects anything, but me."

"Brooke, I don't know what you're talking about," Haley dismisses as she starts to collect the dishes in the living room and heads into the kitchen. Brooke starts to follow her, not allowing her to change the subject this time.

"Are you my best friend?"

"Brooke…"

"Better question. Am I your best friend?"

"That's not fair."

"It's not? Why won't you tell me Haley? Do you not trust me?"

"That's not it! I just don't want to put you in the middle."

Brooke pulls Haley into a hug, "I'm your best friend. So I'm always in the middle. Now, tell me everything."

Letting out a deep breath, Haley began her story, "Well it all started when…"

Two hours later and Haley had concluded her story, staring at a wide-eyed, speechless Brooke Davis, "Brooke… can you say something?"

Shaking her head, she lifted her lips into a huge grin, "That is going to be the best story to tell your grandkids."

"So… you're not mad?"

"Mad? Why would I be… oh. Lucas. Hales, I'm not Lucas, I mean I am a little hurt that you waited this long to tell me, but I get it. And I still love you and I LOVE that you're so happy!"

Smiling softly, "I am really happy, Nathan makes me… he just… I don't know how to explain it!"

"You don't need to explain your happiness to anyone, Tutor Girl… and I do mean anyone."

Haley nodded her head slowly, "I know, I really do. It's just hard."

Nathan scribbled his email address onto a piece of paper for the girl in front of him, waving and smiling politely. Before turning around and walking down the sidewalk, he waved politely at a few other students and felt someone walk up beside him and he looked down to see Haley.

"Hey Hales. What are you doing on this side of campus?"

Not making eye contact, Haley narrowed her eyes, "Why? Didn't expect me to see you with your whore?"

Nathan stopped walking on the sidewalk and pulled on Haley's arm to make her stop as well, "What are you talking about?"

Haley narrowed her eyes motioning back towards the direction they walked from, "I mean, you flirting with that whore and then giving her your number, right out in the open!"

Haley could hear her voice getting louder, but she was so upset, she just didn't care. Nathan searched her face for something more, "Haley that's not-."

"Save it, Nathan! You know, I get that you take home random bar sluts for appearances, but this," Haley waved her hands around campus, "is not okay, Nathan! You tell me you love me, but then you do this?"

"Haley-."

Before Nathan could finish explaining himself, Haley had stalked off and he was left watching her wondering what had just happened.

"Why did you do that?"

"I don't know!"

"Haley…"

"Brooke…"

Brooke sighed deeply giving Haley a pointed look, "I don't understand why you freaked out on him."

"I don't either, Brooke! I just saw him standing there with her and I lost it. I know it doesn't make sense. It's just that you know now and soon everyone is going to know and I guess I just got a little… well, a little anxious."

Brooke started offering words of encouragement, but she was interrupted by a loud banging on their front door. She lifted up a finger, signaling she would be right back. Opening the door, she was met with an angry Nathan Scott, pushing his way through the apartment. Before Brooke could stop him, he was in Haley's room.

"You wanna tell me what the hell that was?"

"Nathan…"

"I mean, what the hell, Haley? We've been doing so well, and I have given you NO reason to doubt me or not trust me. And you just walk up to me, yell at me, accuse me of not only flirting with some random girl, but also you accused me of cheating on you! Do you really think that little of me, Hales?"

"No, God… Nathan, I was so… I don't know what that was, I had just told Brooke everything and-."

"Wait, you told Brooke… everything?"

Brooke smirked behind the two of them, "Yeah and it's a good thing she did because you would have all but confirmed my suspicions by barging in here claiming Haley accused you of cheating on her."

Nathan grinned sheepishly at Brooke before turning back to Haley. He heard Brooke excuse herself and shut Haley's bedroom door softly, "I'd apologize for barging in here and yelling at you, but you kind of did it to me earlier."

"I know, and Nathan I'm so sorry, you have to know I trust you and I don't think you could or would ever cheat on me."

"Then what happened, Hales?"

"I was just so freaked out about everyone starting to know and I saw you with her and I just got so jealous, I barely even know what was happening. One second I was standing next to you and the next second I'm storming off."

"We don't have to tell Lucas, until you're ready. And you never ever have to worry about me wanting anyone other than you," Nathan pulled Haley into him, wrapping his arms around her and letting her head fall onto his chest, "You, Haley James, are perfect."

"Awwwww! Oh shit. Sorry!"

Nathan and Haley turned to the noises outside of her bedroom door and watched as Brooke opened the door, smiling sheepishly, "Sorry, I couldn't help myself! You two are just so cute."

Haley felt the blush rise up to her cheeks and rolled her eyes, "Thanks, Tigger."

"So since me and Julian know about you two, how about a double date?"

Haley bit the inside of her mouth, "I don't know-."

"If anyone sees us, we can just say we're hanging out, but the four of us will know the truth…" Brooke offered hopefully.

Looking up at Nathan, Haley saw a hint of excitement in his eyes, probably the only time he has ever been excited to willingly hang out with Brooke Davis, "Okay, what time?"

So I know I've been really bad at updating, but in my defense, my hard drive crashed and I lost a lot of the work I had done for this story. But moving forward! Brooke and Julian know and it's going to be REALLY soon that Lucas finds out too! Thanks for being so patient!