Three Is Not Company

By: TracyCook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. These characters belong to the creator of One Tree Hill.

Couple: Haley/Brooke and one sided Peyton/Brooke, also some Peyton/Rachel

Rating: M

Chapter 12

Confessions and Beginnings

Haley's POV

Taking in a breath she tried to remind herself to stay strong, she knew that she had to talk with Nathan about things even if it was terrifying. She wanted to be with Brooke or at least give them the chance to figure out what was between the two of them and in order to do that she would have to hurt the first man that she had ever loved. Letting out the breath she had been holding she lifted a shaking hand in order to ring the doorbell.

Large brown eyes watched as the door was open revealing her husband, a look of relief washed over his face and it broke her heart. He had obviously been worried because she left the party without telling him and had not been answering his calls all night.

"Haley, thank god you are okay!" Nathan said laughing and wrapping her up in his arms. She felt uncomfortable and unbelievably guilty. "I was worried about you all night! Where did you go after the party?"

Tears were already threatening to fill her eyes as she pulled away from him. "Nathan we need to talk."

"What's going on Hales?" He asked worriedly as he opened the door placing a hand on her back as he led her into the house.

Glancing down at her feet she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans, shifting uncomfortably under his worried gaze. She had no idea how to explain to him what had happened especially with how angry he had gotten with Brooke at the party. 'With good reason… he is my husband, he should get jealous and upset…'

"Hales?" He tried again reaching out placing a hand on her arm.

Finally she decided that it would be best to simply tell him what had happened and be honest with him, he would probably be extremely angry with her and Brooke but she could not continue to lie about her feelings. They were too strong and confusing. Ignoring the loud pounding in her ears caused by her racing heart she looked up into his eyes and forced out the words she knew that she had to say. "When I left the party last night I went back to the old apartment."

Confusion covered his face before he pulled his hand away from her arm and his demeanor changed, she could tell he was growing upset already at the mere thought. "Wait? You mean you and Brooke's apartment?"

"Yes." She nodded before starting to pace back and forth nervously in front of him, waving her hands around as she tried her best to explain the situation. "I was just going to go and pick up my things because you know, I was moving back in here and yeah all of my things were at our apartment but—" She paused taking in a few breathes trying to calm her nerves, she was growing faint. 'I think I am going to vomit… How can I possibly tell him that I am leaving him… for Brooke?'

"But you don't have any of your things." He pointed out the obvious and she did not know if he was being perceptive and catching on to what she was saying or if he was genuinely confused as to why she did not have them.

Twisting her wedding ring she stopped mid-pace but still could not bring herself to look up at her husband, instead she focused on the ring. "I know."

"What happened? Did Brooke do something stupid like at the party?"

Letting out a sigh she turned to finally look at him. "It wasn't just Brooke who did something stupid Nathan, I did something stupid too."

He was now growing angry as his mind jumped to the worst possible scenario, even if it did seem implausible. "What the hell? Did you guys sleep together or something?" His voice was bordering on shouting which caused her to cringe a little, but she completely understood why he would be upset with her.

"Oh god! No Nathan!" She quickly told him moving closer to him. "No I wouldn't do that to you. But at the party." Pausing she tried to even her breathing and settle her racing heart before she continued. "When she kissed me, when I blamed her, it wasn't all her fault. I enjoyed it and I wanted to kiss her and I—I want to give it a chance."

"With her?" He shouted, not believing what he was hearing.

All that Haley could do was nod as tears started to form behind brown eyes and she looked away ashamed. "Yes, but Nathan this doesn't mean that I do not love you. I just think that maybe we rushed into this marriage before I even tried to date anyone else—"

"—Why does that matter? You just said you love me! Why should you need anyone else?" Tears were filling his eyes and streaming down her cheeks and in that moment Haley hated herself. She truly did.

Reaching out she tried to hold onto his arms, to give him some sort of comfort but he pulled away from her. Staring deep into his eyes she spoke. "Nathan I do love you. I do. I just never really tried to love anyone else and these feelings came out of nowhere but I do have strong feelings for Brooke. I just don't want to lead you or her on; I want to figure out what will make me happy."

"Well, have fun figuring it out on your own."

"Nathan—"

"—No Haley, I can't deal with this! First you leave on tour with Chris and now you have feelings for Brooke all of a sudden? Just get out of my house!"

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Brooke's POV

Rolling over on the bed that she and Haley had shared the night prior she once again checked her phone for any messages from the singer. She had called her a few times and sent her quite a few text messages but none had been returned. Sighing she let out a groan of frustration into a pillow as she tried to think rationally.

Haley had told her that she was going to speak with Nathan about their relationship and wanting to figure things out with Brooke. Which she was more than excited about. At least she had been more than excited about it before the hours had passed. Now she was anxious and worried that while talking to her husband the other woman had realized how much she truly did love him and chosen him over her.

"Stop thinking about it! You are driving yourself crazy!" She shouted out against the pillow, berating herself for not doing something else to preoccupy her mind.

Hearing the sound of keys jangling and the front door knob jiggling, she quickly sat up in bed. "Haley!" She shouted out jumping out of the bed and running toward the living room excitedly, she was too frantic that she ended up tripping as she turned out the bedroom door. After catching herself awkwardly she glanced up at the blonde tutor who was standing there staring with wide brown eyes and a smile that screamed she was holding back her laughter.

"Excited to see someone?" Haley questioned laughing a little.

She stood up and straightened out her clothing before making her way toward the shorter woman, suddenly feeling extremely shy. It was not a normal personality trait of hers but Haley tended to have that effect on her. Flashing her a dimpled grin she shrugged her shoulders. "Just a hot tutor, she was supposed to talk to her husband about some things then meet me here. She hasn't been answering any of my messages so I had hoped it was her. It's a shame."

"Hmm… a hot tutor eh?" The other woman teased moving across the room, setting down her purse and smirking. "Well, I'm sure that she isn't going to show. I mean if she could resist responding to the messages of someone as gorgeous as you, that is."

Raising a cropped eyebrow her grin spread across her face. 'Oh my god, Haley is so freaking sexy right now… is she seriously flirting with me? I will take it that she told Nathan then…' "Haley James are you flirting with me?"

"That depends." Haley teased placing her hands on Brooke's hips pulling her closer to her.

"On?" She wondered looking down at the blonde. Hazel eyes wandering to those perfect lips that she had kissed at the party, she wanted nothing more than to lean in and devour them but she did not know if she was allowed to do so. As she glanced back up she realized that brown eyes had changed color and were now practically black. 'Jeeze it seems she is as turned on as I am…'

"If it is working." Haley grinned knowingly.

"That depends." She rasped out.

"On?" The tutor appeared confused by the response and Brooke could not help but enjoy that, knowing that she had caused her to become slightly insecure and worried.

"If I can kiss you."

Haley started laughing, her eyes filling with tears. "We still have a lot we have to deal with but I talked to Nathan—" She paused and it felt as if Brooke's heart were going to explode as it pounded away and she anxiously awaited the rest of the sentence. "—But I told him about my feelings for you and I want to see where this goes."

"So, is that a yes?" She asked her naturally raspy voice breaking as a dimpled grin spread across her face as she nearly squealed from excitement. This was the woman that she had always loved, the woman that she thought she would never have a chance with because she was married, and she was getting her chance.

"Yes Brooke, you can kiss me." She smiled.

This time she did actually let out a squeak of excitement as she leant down and pressed her lips to the blonde's in a slow but meaningful kiss.

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End Chapter

Authors note: Thank you all for sticking with me!

Please leave me some encouraging reviews and I will try and update soon! Sorry for not having Peyton in this but the next chapter will actually focus a lot around Peyton/Rachel. :) Just wanted to deal with this separately.

Y'all rock!

-Tracy Cook