Ok, so this chapter kind of steals the Pictures of You episode, but just the concept, not any of the pairings or events. I didn't include Chase, Bevin or Skills because I kind of wanted to focus on the core characters and there was some stuff that was needed to get out into the open.
Also, I have zero knowledge about basketball so forgive me of my lame attempts to add in some 'jump shots' because thats about the extent of it.
And this chapter is kind of long, but next chapter is the partay so i needed to get as much out in the open beforehand.
Enjoy, read, review... and all that jazz
"You know what really sucks?" Rachel piped up as her and Brooke walked into school the next day.
"Oh, I don't know, that you're always going to be a total slut?" A voice beside her asked sweetly.
The two girls turned around and stared at her.
"Haley!" Brooke gasped at her friend's out of character reply, pulling her into a hug, whilst Rachel stayed unusually subdued.
"Sorry about that, I couldn't resist!" Haley turned to the redhead, who didn't look to pleased about the insult.
"Whatever, Haley, at least I'm not a fat chick who's husband-" Rachel began in an acidic tone.
"Rachel, need I remind you that my husband wouldn't sleep with you? It seems he has taste, instead of going for some cheap tart." Haley hit back, cutting Rachel off completely.
Brooke looked on in amazement.
"You are on fire today, H.J Scott!" She quipped, nudging her friend and smirking.
"Well someone needed to put Red in her place." Haley pointed out, smiling a little as she walked off towards to Tutor Centre.
"She is mean!" Rachel muttered, scowling and pushing her hair back from her face. "You know, she would deserve it if I slept with Nathan now!" She added, licking her lips in a provocative manner.
"Quit it, Rachel, he's happily married and his wife can clearly bitch slap you with words!" Brooke stuck up for her Tutor Girl, shooting Rachel a look.
"Besides, we have a whole hour slot with her and the whole gang in Tutor Convention." Brooke reminded her, and Rachel sighed dramatically.
"Yep, that's what sucks."
-
"Hello Tree Hill Seniors. Today you have the utmost pleasure of a full 60 minutes in this classroom. Yes, classes have been rescheduled, timetables have been rearranged and you have all got this time to reflect what you have learnt this past year. With Graduation coming up in a few weeks you have a chance to reassess what's important." Mr. Meadows announced with a sardonic smile as the class stared lifelessly back at him.
Brooke put her hand up. "OK, not that I don't love sitting here doing this, but shouldn't we be celebrating our Finals being over, not sitting cooped up in a classroom?" She suggested with a sunny smile.
Mr Meadows raised his eyebrows. "Though that's an interesting idea, Miss Davis, I assure you that by the end of this class you will be glad you were here. This is the time to get everything out in the open. Consider it a fresh start." He said, as the students of the class took this in.
Rachel shot a worried glance at Brooke.
Brooke watched Peyton wearily.
Peyton tried to catch Lucas' eye but he wasn't playing.
Only Haley and Nathan shared a reassuring look.
Rachel shot her hand up, her overconfidence shining through. "What if some of us don't need a fresh start?" She asked innocently. The class sniggered, and a hurt look flitted across her face.
"If anyone needs one, it's you!" Peyton muttered, sending the class laughing again. Rachel folded her arms. Not funny.
"Enough with the witty banter." Mr. Meadows clapped his hands and changed the subject. "OK, so you spend one hour with a partner. That partner can't be a best friend, a boy or girlfriend," He broke off to look pointedly at Haley and Nathan. "A husband and wife, it has to be someone you haven't spent time with lately. I'll let you decide who to go with, and if you make a choice to go with someone you know, then it will be your loss to have wasted an hour gossiping about Gossip Girl or whatever's in this week" He spread his arms out and smiled warmly. "Make that choice."
The room buzzed with anticipation. Chairs were scraped back as people started grouping off.
Nathan turned round to look at Haley. "I guess that means we can't go together." He said, and Haley shrugged. "I have you all to myself anyway, two hours won't hurt." She muttered, and the two shared a sweet kiss.
Lucas walked over to Brooke, and looked at her expectantly. "Want to be my partner?" He asked with a half smile. Brooke tilted her head to one side.
"You're already taking me to the party next week. Besides, I have someone else in mind." Brooke glanced over at her girl and sauntered over.
"Hey Tutor Wife. Want to spend the best hour of your life in the company of yours truly?" She asked with a dimpled smile. Haley nodded and smiled back.
Nathan nudged his brother. "Hey, man. Since Brooke stole my wife I was wondering if you want to do this stupid thing with me?" He asked in a gruff voice, not wanting to sound girly or lame around his peers. Lucas nodded, using the same tone.
"Yeah, sure, maybe we can shoot some hoops down at the River Court." He suggested. The two smiled at one another and did a lame guy knuckle bomp. Smooth.
Rachel looked around the classroom desperately. "No." She said determinedly. "I am not going with blondie bitch!" She cried, giving the only other available person in the class a long glare.
Peyton walked up to her, chewing gum. "You think I want to spend this time with you either?" She asked incredulously, clearly as put out as her partner.
"So, you've all got into pairs. Now," He began writing on the whiteboard. "You need to jot these questions down. You can answer as truthfully or as falsely as you like, but remember kids," He shot them a cheesy smile. "You'll only be cheating yourselves."
-
After the class wrote down the three questions, there was a haste to get out of the classroom.
As the couples spread out around the school, Haley and Brooke sat on the floor of the empty tutor centre.
"I gotta say, Brooke, I was kind of surprised you wanted to do this with me" Haley piped up. Brooke nudged her gently.
"Are you kidding me? You're my Tutor Girl/Wife/soon-to-be-Mom" Brooke replied instantly and Haley smiled.
"Yeah, that's true. But what about Rachel, you two seem to be good friends." Haley continued in a monotone voice, her feelings about Rachel clear.
"She's a good friend to me, sluttiness and cheating aside. But I spend all my time at the apartment with her, didn't want to overload. Besides, we're meant to go with people we've lost touch with and that's definitely the case for us." Brooke pointed out.
"OK, I buy that. But Lucas? What's the deal with him? Didn't he want to go with you?" Haley probed gently. Brooke gave her a sideways glance.
"What's with the questions, Hales? Didn't you want me to pick you?" Brooke fake-pouted, and the two girls laughed.
"Of course I do, I just wondered what was happening with Lucas." Haley defended herself. Brooke shrugged and looked at the ground.
She didn't say anything for a while. She found it difficult to talk about how she felt about Lucas to Haley. It was different from spilling it to Rachel, she often just said something sarcastic and they moved on. Haley was one of the only people who knew Lucas completley, he kept no secrets from her and Brooke was afraid on some level that by telling Haley it would be almost as if she was telling Lucas. And she wasn't ready for that, she didn't want to let her guard down until she knew he was completely committed to her.
"Nothing much, we're going to your party together but that's all" Brooke dodged the question with a strained smile, almost pulling it off. Haley narrowed her eyes but decided to let it go. She looked at her notes and turned to Brooke seriously.
"OK, so what's the best thing that's happened this year?"
-
"Finding out Haley was pregnant" Nathan said instantaneously. Lucas made a shot and turned to his brother.
"I don't know, man, you've turned your life around, you're married! Got a kid coming!" He shook his head and smiled slightly. "You're all grown up!" He added with a snicker.
"I suppose I am. Just got my priorities straight, I guess." Nathan dribbled the ball then made a jump shot. "Either way, I can still beat your ass at basketball." He laughed, teasing his brother.
"Hey, I have a heart condition!" Lucas protested, a little out of breath.
"Excuses!" Nathan brushed off with a grin. The two boys sat on the benches, losing the front they put up when playing on the court.
"If you'd have asked me that question before I'd met Haley then I would have said being accepted to Duke." He admitted softly, staring down at the basketball that was rested between his feet.
"Well yeah but if there was no Haley there'd be no baby." Lucas pointed out, and Nathan smirked when he realized this was true.
"Maybe Peyton..." He suggested, and Lucas looked away. Clearly the topic of Miss Sawyer was off limits. But, Nathan being Nathan, he asked anyway.
"Speaking of her, what's the deal?" He asked bluntly. Lucas let out a loud sigh which may have been misinterpreted as a growl.
"Nothing!" He half shouted.
"Woah, Lucas, relax. I was just asking." Nathan said, and Lucas winced.
"Yeah. Sorry, Nate. I think that was all the pent up frustration of everyone else asking me" He admitted.
"And Brooke? You gonna yell at me about that, too?"
Lucas shook his head, a little smile playing on his lips. The same little smile that appeared when Brooke kissed him for the first time, after showing him her tattoo in the bar, when their relationship was fresh and exciting and new. The same smile he had whenever he saw Brooke opening up her locker, forever reminded of when he decorated it for her, and the happiness all over her face. The same smile that Brooke felt when they kissed in the rain, and the smile she witnessed when he told her he loved her too, Pretty Girl. The smile that hadn't shone so bright since Brooke broke up with him, since Brooke broke his heart.
"Er... Luke? You haven't said anything for a while." Nathan dragged him out of his thoughts, and the smile fell from his lips.
"Sorry. No, i'm not gonna yell at you about her. I can't put into words how I feel about her, Nathan." He replied steadily, showing his feelings without having to go deep. Nathan nodded.
"I think it's called love, dude. It's how I feel about Haley." The brothers sat for a moment, contemplating how in love they were, the same dreamy expression on their faces. After a moment Nathan gave a manly cough.
"Let's shoot some hoops" Lucas suggested, grabbing the basketball and heading onto the court.
-
"I can tell you the worst. Being here with you" Rachel told Peyton, her head tilted and a condescending smile on her face. Peyton raised her eyebrows.
"That was a very clear diversion tactic." She noted sardonically, as the two sat in the library. Rachel nodded in the direction of one of the shelves of books.
"Is that where you almost bled to death and then kissed my best friends boyfriend?" She asked neutrally. Peyton glared at her.
"Well, aren't you lovely?" She said with a fake smile. Rachel matched it. The two stared at each other for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"Yes, that was the spot. The bloodstain kind of gives it away, doesn't it?" Peyton muttered, and Rachel paused, lost for words.
"Must have sucked." She said, being nice in her own special way. In her defense she was nice to the people she thought deserved it, and right then Peyton did. Most of the time though, she didn't.
"How's Brooke?" Peyton asked in almost a whisper, as if she had meant to only say it in her head, but blurted it out.
"My friends are important to me, Peyton. I act like a bitch on wheels to most people, but when it concerns my friends I let my guard down. Brooke is one of the best people I have around me right now and I'm not going to talk about her with you. She gave you a second chance. You blew it" Rachel replied.
Peyton didn't have anything to say to that. The words Rachel said took her right back to Nathan and Haley's wedding: when Brooke had confronted her, slapped her, and ended their friendship.
"I know I did, Rachel. But to be honest it's none of your business. So what, just because you live with her you think you know her? You could never know her the way I do." Peyton bit back, her voice strengthening as it went on. Rachel sat up so she appeared taller, visibly squaring up to Peyton.
Who'd have thought it - these two girls fighting over Brooke's friendship?
"If you knew her that well you would have been a better friend and not involved Lucas" Rachel replied icily, staring her opponent dead in the eye. Peyton didn't flinch or look away.
"I've been her friend for over ten years, Rachel and I can see she's changed. She's constantly demanding about Lucas, she twists round everything I do and say and she's not the girl I know. So forgive me if I don't want to patch things up." Peyton's voice dripped with bitterness and this didn't go unnoticed.
Rachel pushed her hair out of her face and leant her hand on the desk. "I can't say she's better off without you, because that would be a lie, but right now she's figuring things out and you being out of the equation makes it easier for her." Rachel said truthfully.
Peyton took this in and the two girls stayed silent for a while.
Of course, it wouldn't last long.
-
The empty gym echoed with laughter as Brooke and Haley reminisced.
"I still can't believe you had sex in my bed!" Haley said in between giggled.
"I washed the sheets!" Brooke protested jokingly as the two began laughing again.
"How did we even get on to this subject?" She asked, getting back to the actual assignment.
"Er, well I asked what the best thing to happen this year was and then you avoided the question by talking about the past." Haley said in one breath. She put on a serious expression.
"Start talking, missy. What's it gonna be?" She continued, folding her arms and gave Brooke an 'I know you more than you think' look.
"I don't know. Maybe when I started the clothing design. It's not much but I felt proud because it showed I could achieve something without having to lean on everyone around me." She muttered, lost in her thoughts.
"Well, I gotta say, Miss Davis, I always knew you could do it. You may have little faith in yourself but I have enough for the both of us. Your designs are going to be huge." Haley predicted warmly, and Brooke clutched her hand as they shared a moment.
"Thanks, Hales." She said quietly, slipping her friend a small smile.
"Anytime. So, can you tell me about Lucas now?" Haley all but begged, biting her lip playfully. Brooke pouted and sat back.
"So this was all an act: feed her some compliments, soften her up then get her to spill all the juicy details?" She asked, a little put out.
Haley shook her head firmly. "I meant all those things I said, of course I did. I just kind of think you were holding back a bit. I know when you made your designs it was awesome, but do you remember what you said to me?" Haley asked, turning to face Brooke head on.
Brooke looked down at her cuticles and shrugged. "I said a lot of stuff to you that day. If you recall we spent a good portion of it in prison!" She said. Haley rolled her eyes.
"No. You said, and I quote, I love my clothes, but there's an ache in my heart where Lucas used to be. So don't give me any crap about your line being the best thing that's happened to you, because I know Lucas comes first. Just like Nathan comes first for me." She finished, making Brooke look nervous.
She was right. Everything Haley had said was right. She was in love with Lucas. And she was pretty sure he felt the same way. But something told that someone was going to stand in their way.
The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smoothly
OK I actually broke it into two chapters because it was just too long. So consider this part 1, and the next part will be a continuation of it. Sorry about the rather underwhelming ending, but it's kind of just a stopgap for now.
So, chapter 13 will be the party. Unlucky for some...
I think I write way too many A/N's, I should cut back and focus on the story.
Thankyou to BabyBlueBeauty for the correction, I can be such a ditz at times!