(although probably rather obvious, Haley focused here.)

This is starting to get to you. You've spent untold hours with both of them for the last few months, you've neglected everything that is yours and they're still stuck in the same damn rut. Neither one of them will break no matter what you do or threaten or plot to do. They're just walking around with such wounds that you wonder if it's possible they have a small black hole in them, sucking everything down and in. Brooke hides it best, she's had the most training. She's got the most riding on being able to fake it, so she does. Peyton just withdraws and Brooke isn't there to pull her out, and you don't know how to.

The boys don't understand you think. They're sitting around you apartment moping and trying to wrap their brains around this but they're going about it the wrong way. You want to slap them both.

"They're acting like Nate did when you left, Haley. It doesn't make any sense." You sigh and decide that enough was enough. You were done with Lucas Scott sitting on your couch moping his heart out onto your carpet, dragging your husband down with him. It was hard enough dealing with the girls.

"They're acting like Nate did when I left. They're acting like that, Luke because it's the same damn thing. Or worse!" You're frustrated and slamming boxes on the counter, you don't understand how he could be so stupid. He's looking at you and you want to scream at him. You've done so much screaming the last few months, at both of the girls, nothing you did has been able to break them and you're reaching the end of your patience, and so is Nathan.

"But..." He stops, trying to find the words, trying to make this all about him, again. God, you never noticed how self-centered this boy was growing up. You hope it's hormones and he knocks it off soon.

"They're in love with each other, man." Nathan speaks softly, his head resting against the couch, eyes shut. He's tired, and you think of how unfair this all has been on him. You've been with them, or preoccupied with them or homework for so long now. You close your eyes and breathe in. You miss him. You sleep in the same bed and you miss him, and you can only imagine how Brooke and Peyton feel. You can kind of understand why they're still apart but at the same time it frustrates you so much that you almost want to hit them, or something. You want your husband, your marriage back. You've both been through enough trouble.

"What? No. It's Brooke and Peyton. They aren't. They wouldn't." He's frantically grasping onto his denial, you know it'll hit soon though and you and Nate will pick up the pieces, just like you do for everyone else. You're glad you married him, glad you were able to bring out who he really was. He's a good man you think, even if you are a bad wife.

"You said it yourself, Luke. They're acting like I did. Brooke's drinking and throwing herself at all these guys, we can't keep her from them all. Peyton's shutting herself up in her house and neither of them are talking to anyone else. It's not you and Peyton, or you and Brooke. It's Brooke and Peyton."

"No. No." He stands up and gestures emphatically with his hand, pointing down, refusing to believe this. He storms out, slamming the door and you sigh. Walking over to your husband you sit on his lap and give him a soft kiss, an attempt at an apology. He opens his eyes and looks at you quizzically.

"I'm sorry." You rest your forehead against his and breathe him in. His hands come up and wrap around you and you kiss him again.

"I've missed you. I'm sorry I've been such a lousy wife lately." He smirks, in an almost infuriating way, letting you know he knows and agrees but loves you too much to say that you're right. God, you love this man.

"I love you." He smiles wider now and kisses you.

"I know." You laugh and smack his arm. There's a few more kisses, then an adjustment on the couch and then there's moans and love and you're safe again. You curl up to him and drift off to sleep, happier than you have been in awhile.

-

The next day at school you notice Peyton's missing. It's been awhile since she skipped, so you're worried. Nathan promised to let you know if he sees her. You're walking through the hall, noticing there were a few more whispers than normal, and you look up and see Peyton. Your mouth drops open slightly, and you pull her into an empty classroom. It took her a second to register that you were pulling her somewhere, she was so wrapped up in her head. You wonder what happened last night cause you already have a good idea of where her mind is, the same place it's always been. Brooke.

She's looking at you confused, trying to figure out why you pulled her away. You know that when you get her attention here, it makes it so much harder for her to pretend to function in school. You step closer and look at her, trying to figure out what happened.

"What the hell happened to your neck?" It just jumps out, and you notice she doesn't even react to your tone or language.

"What do you mean?" You sigh at her question, her confused expression and dig around in your purse for a mirror and give it to her, rolling your eyes when she gasps in shock and looks at you with panic in her eyes. She takes a deep breath and then pours it out, sort of.

"We...we...talked. Sort of. And there was the door, and the wall and then she was gone and...I don't..." You nod slightly and dig around again for some make-up so she can cover it up. She takes it, looking at you gratefully but her hands are shaking too much for it to do her any good. You take it back and make her sit on the edge of a desk and tilt her head and cover up the marks. You step back and look at her neck appraisingly. Brooke taught you well.

"You'd better get to class."

"Yeah..." She grabs her bag and walks off in that new walk that's encumbering her dwindling frame. The new walk pains you. So does Brooke's. You're kind of glad something happened though. It may not be the best thing, but it's something, and you can live with that for now.