Haley had skated a few times that week and was skating horrible, everything was off. She was currently in a lesson with her coach, Miranda. She was doing her program for what felt like the millionth time that day. She could tell Miranda wasn't exactly pleased with the way she was skating either.
"Come on Haley pick up the pace." Miranda yelled from the wall over the music. "Push!" Miranda added. Haley went up into a jump and came crashing down. Haley just laid on the ice for a minute not bothering to get up and complete her program. "Haley! What are you doing?" Miranda yelled.
"Nothing." Haley muttered sitting up as Miranda skated over to her.
"I can see that." Miranda said. "Now get up and do it again." Haley sighed and got up. She went to start her program again but once again fell on a jump.
"Dammit!" Haley cursed kicking the ice.
"Come on Haley, show a little effort."Miranda reprimanded.
"I can't." Haley said pushing herself off of the ice.
"You need to focus Haley." Miranda said clearly frustrated.
"I'm trying and I can't do any of these stupid jumps!" Haley yelled. Miranda looked slightly startled but didn't back down.
"That's because your not putting enough time and effort into it." Miranda responded. Haley knew this was true but she didn't care.
"I'm not putting in enough time and effort?" Haley snapped. "I've given everything for this sport!"
"Well you need to try harder. Your testing in a 5 days!" Miranda reminded her. They had decided to move up her test date because according to her mother she was doing so well over the summer. "This is important." Miranda reminded you again.
"There's a lot more important things than this stupid test." Haley yelled in frustration now earning the attention of everyone else in the rink including Peyton.
"Haley-" Miranda started to say but was cut off.
"No Miranda! I've given up everything for this sport. My freedom, my dream school, and now a great guy. I can't even focus half the time because I miss him more than I ever thought possible. But I gave that all up! And for what exactly? Not to be able to complete my program? To fall on a jump that I used to be able to practically do in my sleep! It's just all bullshit and I'm sick of it!" Haley screamed before skating away to get off the ice.
"Haley!" Miranda called trying to stop her but Haley kept going.
"Haley!" Peyton said reaching out and grabbing her arm just as she was about to step off the ice.
"What Peyton?" Haley snapped. "Are you going to tell me how god damn important this sport is and my practicing is because if you are you can save your breath." Haley snapped ripping her arm away from Peyton's grasp. Haley stormed off before anyone else could say anything to her. Everyone in the rink started after her in complete and utter shock.
Peyton made it back to the room about a half an hour later to find Haley sitting on the couch again. She slammed the door dropping her skate bag down in the process. Haley jumped when the door slammed shut suddenly. Haley made a move to get up and leave but Peyton stopped her.
"Sit down!" Peyton said angrily. Haley was a little startled by the way Peyton said it and sat down.
"I don't know what had been up your ass but this attitude of yours needs to stop. I get that your sad, I really do but you need to deal with it and not shut everyone out. Your skating is falling apart, you never teach, your grades aren't as good as they used to be, and you don't talk to anyone! Just talk to me we have been best friends for our entire lives there is no reason why you can't talk to me!" Peyton yelled.
"What do you want me to say Peyton?" Haley yelled standing up. Neither one of them noticed their door opening again and someone stepping inside. "Do you want me to say I miss him because I miss him a lot. I miss him so much I can't breath most of the time and I cry myself to sleep most nights. Do you want to hear how I've been waiting for it to get better and its not? Do you want to hear that I can't stand skating or teaching skating because its the reason I'm here and can't be with him. I feel guilty for skating because it's the reason why I'm here." Haley yelled not even realizing she had tears pouring down her cheeks. "Do you want to hear how my grades suck because I zone out on him trying to study? Do you want to hear that I'm so god damn in love with him that it hurts?" Haley yelled not even caring that she just said she loved him out loud for the first time. Peyton's jaw dropped as Haley crumbled to the floor in tears.
"Hales-"Peyton started to say as she moved towards her but was distracted by a voice.
'Well it looks like my timing is perfect." A voice came from the doorway. Haley's head shot up as the person closed the door.
"Brookie." Haley whispered as a small wave of relief washed over her. She loved Peyton but Brooke's Nathan's sister and was with them throughout the entire summer. It was different having her here. What she really wanted was Nathan but Brooke was the next best thing in her mind.
"Hey baby girl." Brooke said walking towards her. She immediately bent down and wrapped her arms around her.
"I missed you." Haley whispered as she hugged her.
"I missed you too." Brooke told her.
"What are you doing here?" Haley asked pulling back slightly.
"Rachel called me." Brooke explained. Haley merely nodded, she should have expected that.
"Are you alone?" Haley asked peering around her.
"Sorry sweetie, he doesn't know I'm here."Brooke answered. No one had bothered to say his name yet.
"How is he?" Haley found herself asking.
"I haven't seen him since he moved into school. He wasn't looking so good the last few days I saw him. Nathan Scott doesn't cry for just about anyone." Brooke said tipped her head towards Haley as Haley began to sob again. Brooke was just being honest. Peyton had remained quiet not knowing what to say. "So you fell in love with my knucklehead of a brother?" Haley gave her a sad smile.
"You fell in love with mine." Haley returned as Brooke smiled. "Does he know your here?" Haley asked referring to Lucas.
"Yes, it took me a while to convince him to let me come alone too." Brooke answered.
"I'm sorry you had to come all the way out here." Haley said softly.
"Don't apologize." Brooke said brushing Haley's hair off of her now wet cheeks. "Your my best friend. I'm here for you no matter what." Brooke answered noticing Peyton standing awkwardly to the side. "Just like Peyton is." Brooke said gesturing Peyton over to where they sat on the floor.
"I'm sorry I've been so hard to live with." Haley said softly as Peyton dropped to the ground next to them.
"I just wanted you to talk to me. I knew you were hurting." Peyton said pulling Haley into a hug. They then pulled Brooke in too. Haley cried for a while before they all relocated to the couch.
"Maybe you should try talking to him?" Peyton suggested as Haley shook her head.
"I can't. His dream is to play basketball at Duke. I can't and won't take that away from him."Haley answered. The girls knew there was no talking Haley out of it. They were broken from their silence by a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Peyton said as she went to answer it.
"Hey." Rachel said with a smile.
"Hey." Peyton responded giving her a quick hug before stepping aside for her to come in. "Come on in." Rachel timidly walked in giving Haley a weak smile.
"Hey Hales." Rachel said nervously.
"I'm not mad." Haley said as Rachel let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank god." Rachel said as Haley chuckled.
"I know you were just worried." Haley said standing up to give her a hug. "Thank you."
"No problem." Rachel answered as she pulled back only to be pulled into another bone crushing hug by Brooke. "Hey Brooke, I miss you too." Rachel said as her and Haley laughed. They all stayed quiet for a minute.
"You really love Nathan don't you?" Brooke asked again.
"I wouldn't have sex with just about anyone." Haley answered revealing another piece of the truth. Brooke's eyes widened along with everyone elses.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Brooke exclaimed. "Was it just once? Was it before you left?" Brooke asked trying to breathe. "How could you not tell me information like this?" Haley chucked slightly, typical Brooke. Haley bit her lip looking down.
"Come on Haley spill, just tell us." Rachel encouraged.
"It's embarrassing." Haley said blushing.
"No it's not!" Brooke exclaimed as Haley laughed.
"We are all friends here." Peyton reminded. Haley nodded taking a deep breath.
"It was the night before we left." Haley answered looking down. "Twice."
"Haley James!" Brooke said acting shocked as she smiled.
"And the morning before we left." Haley added.
"You two just couldn't stop." Rachel said laughing.
"First sex then a tattoo my little Haley is growing up so fast." Brooke said placing her hand over her heart jokingly.
"Tattoo?" Peyton asked. Haley just stood up and turned around showing the tattoo. "Wow I didn't even notice."
"Why'd you get it?" Brooke asked.
"To remember the amazing summer I had." Haley answered. Haley looked down before deciding to answer their previous question."It was amazing in every way possible, exactly how I wanted my first time to be. I wanted to tell him I loved him but I got scared and thought it would make things harder." Haley told them. "All I want is to see him."
They all nodded in understanding. "When are you staying until Brooke?" Haley asked
"Just tomorrow." Brooke answered. " I need to get back for work."
"But you said.." Rachel said trailing off when she saw the look Brooke was giving her.
"You came all the way out here for one night?" Haley asked. "Now I feel even worse."
"Don't." Brooke said shaking her head. "I wanted too."
The four of them all stayed in and watched movies. Haley seemed to be a little better but Brooke still knew she needed to do something. Brooke excused herself after the first movie to call Lucas.
"Hey." Lucas said answering immediately.
"Hey." Brooke said into the phone sitting down on Haley's bed.
"How are things there? How is Haley?" Lucas asked quickly.
"A little better we got her to talk about it but she needs him." Brooke answered. "I need you to do me a favor."
"Anything." Lucas answered quickly. "Do you need me to come there?"
"No, I need to to book me a flight home for first thing tomorrow." Brooke answered.
"Already? You just got there.." Lucas said confused.
"Just please do it. I'll explain tomorrow." Brooke replied.
"I'll text you with the flight time." Lucas answered.
"Thank you." Brooke responded. "I love you."
"I love you more pretty girl." Lucas replied before they hung up. Brooke went back in the the living room to watch the next movie with the girls. Lucas texted her to let her know her flight was at 8 in the morning. That night Rachel stayed over on the couch while Brooke stayed in Haley's room. The next morning Haley woke up and drove Brooke to the airport.
"Sorry I couldn't stay long." Brooke apologized.
"I'm just glad you came at all." Haley answered. "Will I see you on Thanksgiving?" Haley asked.
"Yeah, me and Lucas will be here." Brooke replied.
"Lucas and I." Haley corrected.
"There's the tutor girl I know and love." Brooke said smiling as she leaned over and hugged her. "Go skating today and don't be afraid to love it."
"I'll try." Haley answered. Brooke nodded and went to get out of the car. "Brooke."
"Yeah sweetie?" Brooke said turning back around to face her.
"Can you make sure he's okay?" Haley asked softly.
"Absolutely." Brooke promised. "Bye Hales."
"Bye Brookie." Haley replied as Brooke closed the door and walked into the airport.
Brooke arrived back in North Carolina before 11. She quickly made her way to her car in the airport parking lot and got in. She drove for about ten minutes before she pulled up to her destination. She quickly got out and made her way into the building knocking on the door. Some one answered the door almost immediately.
"Well well well if it isn't Brooke Scott." The person at the door said. "Long time no see."
"Clay." Brooke said smiling at Clay pulled her into a hug. "How are you?"
"I'm getting better. How are you?" Clay asked.
"I'm exhausted I just got back from Boston." Brooke answered.
"Did you go see her?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, she's not taking things too well." Brooke explained.
"Looks like her and your brother have something in common." Clay commented.
"Is he here?" Brooke asked looking around.
"Yeah, he's in his room." Clay said stepping aside. " I need to get to work but maybe you can get through to him. He doesn't go out anymore ever and his basketball game is really starting to suck." Clay slightly joking about the last part.
"I'll do my best." Brooke said walking past him. "Have fun at work." Brooke said grinning.
"No likely." Clay answered stepping out the door. "Don't be a stranger, visit more."
"Will do." Brooke said knocking on the door in front of her. She waited a second before opening it even though she got no answer.
"Come on in."Nathan said muttering sarcastically. He was laying on his bed tossing a small basketball in the air. He looked like he hadn't showered in a couple days and he desperately needed to shave.
"It's nice to see you too big brother." Brooke commented as Nathan rolled his eyes. "You look just as bad as her." Brooke said crossing her arms over her chest as Nathan sat up quickly.
"Haley?" Nathan asked as Brooke nodded rolling her eyes. "You went to see her?"
"Just got back." Brooke answered.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Nathan asked.
"Because I was called to go check on her. She's miserable Nathan. She looks like you." Brooke told him. Nathan frowned and ran his hand through his hair.
"How bad?" Nathan asked.
"She hates school, she doesn't go out she just keeps to herself, she skips skating regularly, and she barely teaches." Brooke said bluntly. "And most of all she misses you."
"I miss her too." Nathan replied quickly. "But what do I do?"
"You go get your girl and stop being stupid. I know you guys didn't want to do the distance but suck it up. It's better than how you guys are now." Brooke told him bluntly.
"I don't have the money to just fly to Boston, Brooke." Nathan said frustrated. Brooke sighed and reached in her purse.
"Take this." Brooke said handing him two tickets. One ticket to get there and one ticket to get home.
"Brooke I-" Nathan said about to protest but Brooke cut him off.
"Think of this as an early Christmas present from me and Lucas. Your flight leaves at 12. Now go get your girl." Brooke repeated as Nathan jumped up and hugged her.
"Your the best sister ever." Nathan said happily as he began throwing things in a near by bag.
"Yeah, yeah I know." Brooke said making her way for the door. She stopped and turned back to face him. "Don't forget to shower and shave. Please do everyone the favor." Brooke told him smirking before leaving. Nathan rolled his eyes and went to the bathroom to do as he was told.
Author's note: PLEASE review. Tell me what you think. What do you want to happen?