The weeks passed by and even began to take on a normal pattern. Lucas' mother, Karen, moved into town and Lucas moved out. Nathan got to see him fairly often at school and for basketball. Surprisingly to everyone except Nathan, Lucas quickly became an asset for the team. He could sink three-pointers in like it was no one's business. Before anyone really knew it there was only a week left until the South Eastern Cheer Competition and the boys would be playing one of the first games in the rounds for play-offs.

Nathan didn't want to tell anyone but there was something else riding him. He was flunking Geometry and could only think of one person who could help him quickly, so he could stay on the team. The one person he knew Brooke wouldn't want him to have contact with, Haley James.

He walked into the tutor center after dropping Brooke off at the gym where she had promised to stay for gym. Haley was sitting at a table, her face buried in a book. Nathan couldn't deny that she was good looking, like Brooke there was just something about her that glowed from the inside out and needed no artificial treatment.

"Hales," he hadn't called her that name in years.

She looked up, her doe eyes fluttering in surprise, "Nathan."

For a moment they made eye contact and in that moment a million thoughts flew through both of their minds. The past still burnt brightly in both of their eyes.

"What are you doing here," she asked as she rose.

He took a step forward, "I need help with Geometry. Help that will affect my grade for the better immediately."

"How bad," she asked the question. It sounded simple enough but it was really a question that had many answers.

"I'm flunking," he replied but then waited a beat, "she'll flip out if she knows."

"I don't like hiding this from her, it didn't work out so well last time," Haley told him.

"I need you, Hales. We both know that nothing is going to happen."

She nodded because she couldn't speak without telling him that she wouldn't mind something happening.

222

Haley James had worn a few different masks in her short year and a half in high school. She was a tutor because she was good at teaching others and was really good in her classes. She was a musician because music was her outlet, when she played everything in the whole universe melted away until it was just her and the song. She was a cheerleader because for a time Haley had been a true part of the most popular group of people in Tree Hill High. She had been the fifth and final installment in the group in which Nathan and Brooke ruled, but she had effectively gotten herself kicked out. It would take years, she was certain, to forget those days. The day when it had first happened, the day Brooke had asked her, and the day the shit had hit the proverbial fan.

"You look deep in thought," the voice cut her out of her thoughts.

She looked up expecting to see one of the basketball players and wasn't surprised when her gaze collided with blue eyes, only these eyes belong to Lucas Scott, Nathan's older brother, "I'm sorry what did you say?"
"I said you look deep in thought and I thought that was odd because Twain doesn't really require that kind of intensity," he grinned.

She smiled back, it was nice to have someone who didn't know her or the past. Not only was he in her social cliché but he read for fun like she did, "maybe he does but you never realized it."

"Touché," he clutched his heart and sat across from her. They were at the opposite end from Brooke and Nathan but the table was pretty packed.

"Are you excited about this Friday," Haley asked after a beat.

"Sort of, I mean I've played high stakes games before. Mostly I just don't want to let my team down. I'm excited though because my mom and uncle will be there."

"Nathan's uncle," Haley questioned.

"Yeah, my Uncle Keith is Dan's older brother. I think one of the reasons mom decided to move back was because Keith and Dan are trying to reconnect since their father died last year."

"Why would your mother move back for your uncle," Haley asked.

Lucas smiled, "they're kind of together. They haven't really defined it yet but he lives with us. You should come by and check out her café sometime."

"You mean like a date," she asked.

He nodded his head and grinned, "yeah, like a date."

"I'd love to," she agreed. Maybe, she thought, things were looking up.

222

Brooke felt the pressure of the coming competition weighing down on her. Sure she had two years after this to win if they didn't this year but it didn't matter. She wanted to win this year. She was a good choreographer and she had great people working with her. Peyton chose the most slamming music and Rachel Gatina, one of her good friends, was always working with her to create the most unique and up-to-date dance moves. Of course it was the girls on the team who made her dances come to life. And like it or not, Haley was one of those girls. After what had happened everyone had been surprised when Brooke had allowed Haley to stay on the team. Despite everything Brooke hadn't wanted to publicly demean her old friend or socially sabotage her. Besides, that wasn't her style when it came to pain.

Generally Brooke Davis would lash out at someone who irritated, annoyed or pissed her off. But when someone she truly trusted or loved hurt her she retreated full circle. There was some pain that was too hard to bear. She didn't want to consider how that thought reflected on her character.

"Calm down, babe," Nathan's hands were gently kneading her shoulders as they sat on the bleachers listening to whoever this person was talking about the dangers of unsafe, promiscuous sex.

"The competition is only a few days away, Nate," she murmured.

"And you've been pushing yourself and the girls for the past few weeks. I've barely seen you at all the last two weeks and when I do you're so tired that you just pass out."

"I know," she tilted her head so she could meet his gaze, "after this weekend I promise I'll be around more. But it's not like I haven't missed you the whole time. What have you been doing while I've been off creating the dance moves of the century and whipping the girls into shape?"

Nathan didn't want to lie to Brooke but he dared not say that while she had been testing her moves and music with Peyton and Rachel all night he had been with Haley. He knew the moment those words left his mouth she would do what she always did when something hurt too much. Her tidy little shell would rise and wrap around her and he would never be able to get inside of her again. The thought of not basking in the glow of her heart was enough to make him shiver with apprehension.

"Are you cold? What's wrong are you sick," Brooke's worried voice cut into his thoughts.

He cupped her cheek and kissed her lips gently before deepening it and slowly thrusting his tongue inside of her mouth. She accepted him and for a few long moments both of them forgot that there was something else happening in the world.

"Okay, I think I just puked a little in my mouth," Peyton whispered loudly.

Brooke broke their kiss but laid her head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat was a comfort, her constant, the thing in her life that would never hurt her or disappoint her. She closed her eyes and prayed that it was true.

222

Lucas had grown used to Tree Hill in the month and a half he had been there. He was used to seeing Karen at working at her own business. She had worked as the manager of a restaurant in South Carolina but this job obviously suited her better. She loved it and he was just glad she was happy. Keith was working at a school designed for people trying to get their Associate's degree in mechanical engineering. Lucas had the sneaking suspicion that soon Keith and his mother would be making a big announcement.

One thing Lucas hadn't gotten used to was seeing Brooke. Every single time he looked at her she took his breath away. He was fairly certain that she didn't realize it, but she glowed. It was as if her soul was so huge and luminescent that it couldn't be contained in her small frame, it had to burst free. He had attended many parties with her and "their" group. He had hung out with her a few times while Nathan was in the shower and he had been staying at Dan and Deb's house. He had even gotten dragged shopping with her and Peyton because he was "so 2001!"

He wanted to kiss her. God, he wanted to taste her! Sometimes her lips would entrance him to the point where he couldn't focus on what she was saying. He just knew that she would taste like some addicting drug that once tried could never be stopped. But for all the things Brooke Davis was, there was one thing he could never forget, she was his brother's girlfriend. The brother who he was slowly, but surely, growing a relationship with, who had gotten him on the team; the brother who he hung out with when all the guys played poker; the brother who would be devastated if Brooke ever left him. Lucas took a deep breath and tried to forget her but the moment his eyes closed she was there.

222

Haley mulled over the paper for a few more seconds before she looked up with a grin on her face, "you got a B. Good job, Nate!"

Nathan smiled and puffed out his chest, "once again, I am the man!"

"Okay, egotistical much? Now," she pulled a hand through her hair and shyly looked into his eyes, "what are you going to give me in return for helping you out?"

His eyes widened in slight surprise, "what do you want?"

"Nate, we were friends once upon a time. Real friends. I want that again," she admitted.

"You know that Brooke-" she cut him off by placing a small hand over his lips, gently rubbing them.

"I want to be in your life, close to you again."

Nathan shook his head but didn't move to remove her hand from his lips, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"You don't think, or Brooke doesn't think so? Why do you let her control you," Haley asked, his rejection pounding through her heart.

"Haley," he grabbed her hand before she could get up, "Brooke doesn't control me. We're a team, we work together. I can't hurt her again."

"She never has to know," Haley whispered.

Later that night Nathan would wonder what strange turn of fate would have Brooke walk into the kitchen the moment the words came across Haley's lips.