A/N: Is anyone still reading? Song is a "Almost Lover" by Fine Frenzy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Haley mulled Brooke's words over. She knew in her heart that Brooke was right. There would always be something between her and Nathan, she just didn't know if it would be what she wanted.
"Thanks Brooke. I know we haven't really been all that close, but I'm glad you're here right now." Haley said, smiling at Brooke.
"Well lucky for you, slutty is in season, and I keep up with the trends." Brooke joked. Haley gave her an indignant look. She started to respond, but was cut off by Luke coming in her door. He gave her a small smile, as he plopped down on the couch beside Brooke. Brooke glanced between the two of them, before raising an eyebrow and giving Haley a pointed look.
"So, I'm just going to go and try on my new clothes, see ya!" Brooke exclaimed as she gathered up her multitude of bags and headed towards the bathroom. Haley and Lucas lapsed into an uncomfortable silence.
"Did you have a nice walk?" Haley asked, after a few minutes had passed.
"Yeah, I nearly got picked up by a prostitute." Lucas informed her with a grin. Haley shook her head and laughed out loud.
"Listen, Hales, I'm sorry about earlier. I know you messed up and I know you feel terrible about it. It's not my place to make it worse. I hope you'll forgive me." He said quietly, his eyes locked on hers. She nodded slowly. She could never stay mad at Lucas.
"Of course I do. I'm sorry that I'm a, what did Nathan say, oh, a club whore?" Haley replied darkly. Nathan's response had really hurt her this morning.
"Oh. He said that? That might be my fault." Lucas said, biting his lip in embarrassment.
"Your fault, how?" Haley ask in confusion. She knew that Lucas would never call her anything that disrespectful, and Nathan had mentioned Brooke, not Lucas.
"I read an article in one of Brooke's magazines and she saw it too. Anyway, somehow it got brought up in front of Nathan and I tried to play it off, but Brooke wasn't thinking and spouted off some witty comment about you becoming a club whore. You know Brooke, she didn't mean it the way it sounded." Lucas explained, trying to defend Brooke. Haley wanted to be upset with Brooke about it, but Luke was right. Brooke was known for her biting remarks, but usually she never truly meant to hurt anyone with them.
Sighing, Haley checked her watch. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the time.
"I have to go, I'm sorry. I'm going to be late for rehearsal. There's a list of take-out places by the phone, just tell them to charge it to me. I'll try to get back early so we can go out!" Haley called over her shoulder as she rushed out the door. She had five minutes to make a twenty minute trip, and that was only if traffic was decent. She flipped open her cell phone and sent Chris a text, letting him know that she was on her way.
Half an hour later, she rushed into the studio. She put her stuff down and sat down to try and catch her breath.
"It's about time, Haley." Chris joked, sitting down beside her. She gave him a rueful smile and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever Keller, I have company, you're lucky I'm here at all." She told him, frankly.
"Alright guys, are you ready?" Their sound manager asked, as he finished getting set up. Haley stood up and nodded. She wanted to get this done quickly.
The song that they were recording was about a relationship that had cooled. It talked about how it was hard to let go when you could still remember the good times. It pained Haley to sing it, and she'd been putting off rehearsals for weeks now.
She took a deep breathe to calm herself. She waited with growing nerves as Chris sang the beginning of the song.
"Your fingertips across my skin, the palm trees swaying in the wind. Images, you sang me Spanish lullabies. The sweetest sadness in your eyes. Clever trick." Chris sang, his voice haunting.
"Well, I never want to see you unhappy. I thought you'd want the same for me." Haley sang, joining in. She tried to focus on the words of the song, not the way they were breaking her heart.
"Goodbye, my almost lover. Goodbye, my hopeless dream. I'm trying not to think about you, can't you just let me be? So long, my luckless romance. My back is turned on you. Should've known you'd bring me heartache, almost lovers always do" She finished softly. She felt a tear slide down her cheek. Chris tilted his head, his concern for her evident on his face. She shook her head and continued.
"We walked along a crowded street. You took my hand and danced with me. Images, and when you left, you kissed my lips. You told me you would never, ever forget these images." She sang, gathering strength from her emotions.
They finished the song strongly. Before she'd even taken her headphones off, she saw Mike clapping and giving them a thumbs up.
"Are you okay?" Chris asked, slipping off his own headphones.
"I'll be fine. It's just that song, with everything that's happened.." She trailed off, knowing that she didn't need to explain the situation to Chris.
"I know it sucks, but honestly, would you be able to sing it with as much emotion if you didn't really feel it?" He asked, giving her a knowing smirk as he exited the studio. Haley narrowed her eyes suspiciously. No, even Chris wouldn't go that far, for a song, would he?