...To Deceive

When Haley walked into the kitchen later on that evening sweaty and winded, she found Lucas, Brooke and Peyton sitting at the table eating. They looked up at her and her eyes were drawn to Lucas as if by some invisible force.

"Hey, buddy." he said softly. His eyes were filled with unspoken emotion and it was all she could do not to go to him, and hold him, and let him hold her...but then she noticed Brooke's hand on his thigh and it was suddenly easier to resist the urge. Instead she walked to the sink and washed her hands. She could feel their eyes on her back and she glanced at them.

"What's up?" she asked easily.

Brooke gaped at her. "What's up!" she said incredulously. "Single Girl, where have you been! We called you like---a hundred times! Where were you?"

Haley turned her back on them and filled a glass of water. "I was at the courts."she breezed. "Shooting hoops if you can believe that."

She heard someone choke and looked up in time to see Lucas wiping his mouth as Brooke patted his back.

"You were shooting hoops?" he said with disbelief. "Like--with an actual basketball?"

Haley's eyes were on Brooke's hands caressing his back and her nausea from earlier suddenly returned in full force. "Yes, I was, Luke. What, is it really that impossible to fathom that I was playing basketball?"

Lucas heard the edge in her voice and his grin faded. His eyes locked with hers and she saw the questions there but she ignored them and turned to put her glass in the sink. She suddenly wanted out of that room so much, she could taste it. She wanted to be in the sanctuary of her own room so that she could stop smiling. Stop acting like everything was okay. Because she felt far from okay, she felt horrible. She needed to get away and quickly.

She turned around to put her glass away, but in her haste, she missed the sink and dropped the glass on the floor instead. It crashed and shattered as it hit the ground and the room fell intocomplete silence--then it was a flurry of activity.

Peyton lept to her feet. "I'll get the broom." she said quickly.

Brooke got up and rushed to Haley's side."Are you, okay Haley?" she asked touching Haley's arm.

Haley was speechless as she stared at the broken glass at her feet. "Uh..yeah," she finally murmured."I'm okay.." Lucas who had been at her side in an instant, put his arm around her waist and she melted into him automatically.

"Hales.." he said softly and it was in his voice, that unspoken emotion from earlier and she couldn't help herself. She lay her head on his chest...for a moment. Just a moment...and then Peyton was there sweeping up the glass and she pulled away from Lucas and picked up the dust pan. As she bent down to help Peyton, purposely avoiding contact with Lucas, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Get a grip Haley,she said to herself. Keep it together for a little while longer, a little while...She opened her eyes and met Peyton's, and the compassion and understanding she saw there almost broke her. Almost. But then the glass was in the dustpan and they were standing so that she could throw it away...and the urge to get away became almost unbearable.

"Gosh, I'm clumsy." she said with false cheerfulness as she turned to face her friends. They were all staring at her with different emotions playing across their faces and the urge intensified. "Well, I'm going to hit the shower so..."

She turned to leave but Brooke grabbed her arm. "Oh no you're not!" she cried "Not until you taste this absolutely unbelievable spaghetti whipped up by none other than moi."

Haley balked. "Oh Brooke, I'll try some later okay? I'm all sweaty and dirty. I need to--"

"You're not that sweaty Haley, you're just a little...damp." Brooke interjected pulling her towards the table. "Now come on. I'm not taking no for an answer, so sit."

Haley stared at Peyton pointedly, her eyes reflecting the panic she felt, but Peyton stared back helplessly...and Lucas was pulling out a chair for her.

"Come on Hales, it's really good." he said as Haley sat down slowly. He touched her shoulder and she felt his hand slowly slide behind her neck and through her hair before he returned to his seat but Haley refused to meet his eyes. She watched instead as Brooke heaped a huge serving of pasta unto a plate and set it before her before sitting down as well.

"Now, I know what you're thinking. Brooke Davis? A closet cook! But I only started leaning how to cook this summer." Brooke said excitedly. She didn't seem to notice the silence at the table as she chattered on. "Mother and daddy hired this amazing cook, Chef Jean-Phillipe--he's from France and he is always grumpy and complaining about something or other-- but he's a fabulous chef, I swear I've gained at least five pounds already!--And he taught me how to make this absolutely fabulous spaghetti using only noodles, tomatoes, a spoonful of garlic salt and some olive oil and grated cheese. It is to die for, I swear! Go on, dig in!" She watched anxiously as Haley resignately picked up her fork and took a bite of her food. She slowly nodded at Brooke and smiled faintly. "It's fantastic, Brooke." she agreed.

Brooke clapped her hands excitedly before picking up her own fork. "I knew you'd like it!" she said. She took a bite of her food and looked around the table, finally noticing the silence.

"Okay, what's up with you guys?" she asked glancing from Lucas to Peyton. "You're barely eating and Peyt, I'm seriously going to have to start calling you Broody number two, if you don't crack a smile soon!"

Peyton smiled weakly. "I'm sorry Brooke, I'm just not very hungry...and I have a lot on my mind."

Haley saw her glance her way and stared down at her plate unhappily. So Peyton is still upset at us, she thought silently chewing her food, great...She glanced up at Lucas in time to see Brooke kiss his cheek and her stomach lurched. At least Peyton wouldn't have to worry about her and Lucas anymore. Whatever had been between them--whatever it was--it was obviously over. Peyton had been right. Evidently, it had been little more than a one-night stand to Lucas...

Haley swallowed with difficulty as she felt the food suddenly rise up in her throat.

"Haley?" Brooke said concerned.

"I'm sorry." Haley said rising to her feet. "This is really great Brooke but I'm not really that hungry. I'll eat the rest later okay?" She looked at Lucas and felt the tears starting to come, but she held them at bay. "And anyway," she said "I have to get ready. I have a date. With Nathan."

She turned and put her plate in the microwave as she heard another choked gasp. This time it was Peyton.

"Haley--what?" Peyton gasped astonished.

Brooke's mouth hung open in shock before slowly melting into a dimpled grin. "Way to go Single Girl!" she said proudly. "You and Nathan are going out? Where? And it better be expensive with the way he treated you!"

Haley forced a smile. "Nathan and I are just going out for ice cream, Brooke." she said easily."He came by the courts and we...well we made amends. He's forgiven me and I've forgiven him." She looked at Lucas who sat completely still, staring at her intently. An assortment of emotions played across his face, before it became the expressionless mask that he was so good at hiding behind. But he couldn't hide the emotion in his eyes and the pain that Haley saw there, confused her. Lucas and Brooke were clearly back together. It was evident in the way that she kept on touching him and the smiles he kept sending her way. So why was he upset that she was going out with Nathan? Surely he wouldn't begrudge her time with her ex when he was so obviously back with his! Haley felt a sudden rush of anger start to warm her cheeks. She couldn't believe that Lucas would be so hurtful and selfish and uncaring, she just couldn't believe that. She had to be alone. She made herself smile brightly."Anyways the showers calling, and I'm meeting Nathan at Sugar 'n' Cream so.." She turned to go but Brooke stopped her.

"Wait! That bonehead isn't going to pick you up?" she asked incredulously.

Haley shook her head. "No, he..didn't think he should come by..." Her eyes rested on Lucas as her voice trailed away. When she'd lost her challenge to Nathan and he'd told her that his prize was her going out for ice cream with him, she'd lept at the idea. She and Nathan could start trying to regain their friendship and she could get out of the house and not be forced to watch Brooke and Lucas...reconnect. The thought alone made her stomach curl. But then Nathan had asked her to meet him and she'd realised that he purposely didn't want to see Lucas. He still hadn't fully forgiven Lucas for lying to him about going to see Haley in New York and for some other reason that both he and Lucas refused to tell her. Even so, it was a problem that she intended to rectify as soon as she could. Still, she thought as she looked at Lucas,with all that they were going through, she hadn't wanted to hurt him by telling him that his brother didn't want to see him. As Lucas eyes widened with the sudden realization of what Haley wasn't saying, she felt her heart drop in her chest. No matter what they were going through, she hated seeing him hurt.

She looked at him."He just thought that it might be easier to meet at S'n'C because I'm closer to it and all."

Lucas eyes met hers as he saw through her lie and his lips curled into a slight soft smile, beforefading completely.

"Haley." Peyton suddenly said."Are you sure?" Her eyes shone meaningfully and Haley smiled at her gratefully.

She nodded. "Yeah, I actually am." she said "I never thought that Nate and I would get to a place where we could even look at each other, let alone hang out. I'm just grateful that Nathan wants to be my friend again. I mean we both made mistakes but...I hurt him first."

Peyton looked at her and then nodded, but Haley could still see the doubt in her eyes. She sighed inwardly hoping that Peyton wasn't right to doubt Natan's friendly gesture. She'd obviously already been right about one of the Scott brothers'...

Haley bit her lip to keep the sudden sob that threaten to come out, inside. "Okay well...I'm off to the shower..."

She left the kitchen quickly and hurried into her room, her haven. She closed her door and leaned her forehead against it's solid coolness for a moment, taking a deep breath as she leaned against it.

Then she walked over to her bed and as she sank into its softness, she finally let the tears come.