Hey guys, thanks so much for the reviews. You're all awesome! Please keep writing them since all your comments are fun and fabulous to read. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 25

Secret No. 25: Sometimes it's ok to ask for a little help.

Peyton paced back and forth in front of the courtroom doors. She looked at her watch for the tenth time that hour. She was starting to get nervous. Seriously, how can it take this long? The decision to give Jenny to Jake instead of Nicki is a no brainer. Just then, Peyton heard her cell phone go off. She looked down at the caller id. It was Brooke.

"Hello," Peyton answered.

"Did you find out yet?" Brooke asked.

"No. They're still in there," she sighed. "I wish you were here. I'm going crazy."

"I'm sure it'll all work out," Brooke reassurred her.

"I hope so. Where are you now?" Peyton questioned trying to make small talk. It was better than pacing around like a complete lunatic.

"History class."

"Then shouldn't you not be on the phone?" Peyton laughed. She was relieved that her mom said she could go in later. She knew how important Jenny and Jake were to her. Plus, if she had to stay cooped up in class during the whole ordeal, she'd probably be even more anxious and off the walls than she already was.

"The sub doesn't really care. All he asked was that we find something productive to do so he can read is Star Trek book."

"Star Trek?"

"Yeah, the guy's a total weirdo. Not to mention, it looks like he hasn't washed his hair in about a month," Brooke said disgusted.

"Ew."

"Tell me about it. I'm worried something extraterrestrial might crawl out of there and kill us all," Brooke joked causing Peyton to laugh.

"Nice," Peyton commented.

"I try," Brooke replied playfully. It was just then that the court room doors finally opened.

"Oh, Brooke, they're getting out now. I'll talk to you later and let you know what happened," Peyton informed her. She then said goodbye to her sister before sprinting over to Jake.

"He made his decision," Jake stated. Peyton's stomach felt sick. The expression on Jake's face didn't look too good. Peyton loved Jenny as if she was her own. And Jake, well, she wanted nothing more than to see him truly happy.

"And?" Peyton prodded.

"I get full custody," Jake declared now smiling. Peyton let out a squeal and jumped into his awaiting arms. He then bent down and kissed her passionately on the lips.

"That is so great," Peyton exclaimed as she pulled away. "I knew you'd get her."

"I'm so relieved. For a while there I thought that Nicki would was going to win."

"But the important thing is that she didn't," Peyton stated. "By the way, where is she? I thought she would have stomped out bitching and swearing by now."

"Oh, she did. She flipped out in the courtroom after the judge made his decision. It got so bad that they had to detain her."

"Oh my God," Peyton busted out laughing. "I would have paid to see that."

"It was pretty funny. But the only thing I want to see right now is my daughter."

"Then let's go," she replied. "Lead the way, Daddy." Jake gave her another tender kiss before they made their way out of the building. It looks like everything is going to be ok, after all.

"No, Lucas, it's not ok," Brooke pouted. "You promised to take me out this weekend."

"Brooke, I have to finish that essay. It's half of my midterm grade," he explained. "As soon as I'm done I promise I'll make it up to you."

"How? It's not like we can do anything anymore. You're not allowed in my room and your mom is like the prison warden in your house."

"I was thinking more along the lines of a really expensive Christmas present."

Brooke pondered what he said for a minute. "I guess I could work with that. But I still expect some good, old fashioned holiday love making later on," she warned.

"I promise. We'll just have to brainstorm."

"Hey guys," Haley greeted as she and Peyton joined the table. Nathan and Tim came a minute later.

"So, I'm assuming that Jake got custody considering you have that dopey smile on your face," Brooke commented.

"Yup, Jenny is his. That Nicki bitch gets one visit a month if she's lucky," Peyton informed them.

"That's great, Peyton. Now you guys can have a perfect Christmas," Haley smiled.

"Wait, Jake has a kid?" Tim asked. Everyone in the group turned to look at him in disbelief before rolling their eyes.

"Dude, you're just figuring this out now?" Nathan asked incredulously.

"What? I thought that Jenny was his little sister," Tim defended. "My bad." After Tim's dumb moment passed, the group began talking about midterms and the upcoming holidays. They couldn't wait for winter break—which was in two weeks. As everyone was talking, Haley just sat there quietly thinking to herself. Usually she would be all in the holiday spirit and singing/playing Christmas carols. But this year it was different. She hadn't touched her guitar or their piano since Jimmy had died. She felt guilty since music was the reason she didn't get to spend those last moments with her father in the first place. And during the holidays, her and her father would always be the family's musical entertainment.

"Haley, are you ok?" Brooke questioned as she broke out of her conversation with Lucas. She now had her classic concerned look on her face. "You're really quiet and you haven't touched your lunch."

"Yeah, what's going on, Hales?" Nathan joined in. Haley shook her head and tried to come up with an excuse. She didn't want to tell her sister and friends the real reason why she was sad. So she told them about another incident that was somewhat bothering her.

"Nothing, I'm just not hungry. Besides, if I'm going to be a permanent cheerleader I'm going to have to lose weight," she stated. After the Classic, Brooke and Peyton had been so impressed that they begged her to join the squad. Haley had actually enjoyed filling in so she figured it wouldn't be so bad if she did it on a regular basis. She wanted to try something new.

"Lose weight? Haley, you're totally slim. If you get any thinner you're going to have chicken legs like Peyton over here," Brooke said.

"Yeah. Hey!" Peyton exclaimed as she realized what her sister just said. She then gave her a playful smack on the arm.

"Hales, you're not fat. Where the hell would you even get an idea like that?" Nathan questioned as he began to rub her back.

"Um…Rachel?" she responded.

"Haley, the girl's plastic. Before she had all the lipo she practically looked like the female version of Fat Bastard," Brooke said outraged. "And you're perfect. Don't even waste your time worrying about that beast."

"Although, that lipo did the trick," laughed Tim.

"Shut up, Tim," everyone at the table besides Haley ordered. Tim recoiled in his seat.

"She also said I have a small head," Haley added.

"You do not have a small head," Nathan countered. "She, however, has a small brain. You're gorgeous. She's just jealous."

"Yeah, Haley, she's threatened by you. She's always had a thing for Nathan and you have him. Plus, cheerleading is her domain and now you're officially on the squad," Peyton explained.

"Carrot Top is so going down for this!" declared an angry Brooke. "No one calls my little sister fat and gets away with it."

"Easy there, Cheery. This isn't the Godfather," Lucas reasoned.

"Broody, when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. Curly, Tutor Girl, let the public humiliation begin!"

"Brooke, that's really not necessary…" Haley tried to talk her out of it.

"You're seriously creeping us out," Peyton said. "Just leave it alone, Brooke. We don't need any more trouble."

"I agree. But if she says one more thing to you, then she'll have to deal with me," Nathan stated. "Now eat, Hales, before you waste away." He then pushed her lunch bag closer to her.

Haley shook her head and got up to leave. "I'll see you guys later. I have some stuff to take care of," she said in a rush and then practically ran away from the table.

"I can't believe she's taking that wench seriously. I don't get it. Haley never lets stuff like that bother her this much," Brooke wondered aloud.

"It's not that. Something else is wrong," Peyton declared.

"Like what?" Nathan asked as he stared after Haley.

"Do you remember who Haley's favorite person to hang out with during the holidays was?" Peyton reminded Brooke.

"Dad," she solemnly replied. The whole table went quiet--each person worried in their own way about the petite girl in turmoil.

Haley didn't want to go to her last period math class. She wasn't in the mood to face Brooke and the others' questions. Instead, she headed to the beach. First she went in Peyton's locker to get her car keys and then she left school. Haley knew that Brooke would have a fit when she wasn't in class. But the truth was, she just didn't care.

Her thoughts then went back to her father and the concert the night of his death. The next thing she knew, she was drinking from a small bottle of Jack Daniels that she had swiped from home before she arrived. Haley was never a drinker. She was always responsible and did the right thing. But the pain and guilt was still slowly eating away at her. After having chugged quite a few sips, she heard a voice behind her.

"Drowning your sorrows?"

"What are you doing here? You have basketball practice this afternoon."

"And you had math. But you're not there right now either," Nathan stated.

"How did you know where I was?" Haley was having a hard time focusing on him. She could feel the alcohol starting to take over.

"I followed you. I got worried when you ran from the table at lunch," he explained.

"How very James Bond of you," Haley replied sarcastically. When did the beach start spinning? "I'm fine so you can go now."

"Haley, you're drinking. That doesn't look to me like you're fine. In fact, it's something the old me would have done."

"Well, looks like I got something from you after all," she spit out as she started to drink from the bottle again. Nathan rushed over and pried it out of her hands. The then threw it as far as he could into the ocean.

"Hey…" she protested.

"Alcohol is not going to solve anything. Trust me," he said.

"How can I? I couldn't trust my dad. He and my mom were married for 19 years and he threw it all away for some plastic bimbo. Much like Rachel but without the red hair," she angrily retorted.

"So this is about your dad."

"Just leave me alone." He was getting too close to the truth for her liking.

"I'm not going to do that. I don't turn my back on the people I love. So it looks like you're stuck with me," Nathan declared as he sat down next to her.

"What's really got you so upset, Haley?" Nathan softly questioned as he removed the strands of hair out of her face. Despite her best efforts, Haley could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I miss him. With the holidays coming it just makes it so much worse. Each year during Christmas, my Dad and I would get together and practice singing different carols. Then, on Christmas Day, we'd make our 'debut.'" Nathan nodded his head for her to continue.

"I haven't played or sung since my father's death. It was because of music that I wasn't with him in the hospital. I just feel so guilty all the time, Nathan. And sometimes I wonder why—since he royally screwed over our family. I just…" she choked out.

"Haley," Nathan soothed as he put an arm around her and brought her in close. "It's ok to feel like that. What your Dad did was messed up. But he still loved you. I'm sure Brooke and Peyton feel the same way."

"But…" she sobbed out.

"No," he interrupted. "You have to forgive yourself and let it go. Your father wouldn't want you to be miserable. You didn't know. There was no way you could know." Haley cried on Nathan's shoulder for another five minutes. What he said was true. She had to stop beating herself up over it. She knew it wouldn't happen right away. She needed time. Eventually, the tears stopped. I really don't feel well. Maybe all that liquor wasn't a good idea after all.

"Nathan, would you consider it a bad thing if I was seeing double right now?" Haley asked as she clutched her head. She was seriously beginning to feel nauseous.

"Come on, let's go inside. I know a hangover in the making when I see one."

"Inside where?" she questioned confused as she tried to stand up. However, she wasn't very successful since she could barely sit up without it taking a great effort.

"My parents' beach house is nearby. You can lie down there," he explained as he helped her up.

"I really don't feel good," she whined as he guided her to the house.

"Well maybe next time you won't drink," Nathan lightly laughed. "It's just a little farther." A few minutes later they arrived at the beach house. It was huge. The inside was even more extravagant. If Haley hadn't been so sick, she actually would have just stood there in the lavishly decorated living room and taken it all in. Nathan quickly brought Haley upstairs to his room. He helped her onto the bed and let her lie down. He then went into the bathroom and got a cool, wet face cloth to put on her head.

"Any better?" he asked.

"Well, the room is only partially spinning now. I never even want to look at alcohol again." Nathan sat down on the bed next to her and began to stroke her hair.

"Uh oh," Haley muttered as she felt her stomach contract. I think I'm going to be sick. Nathan, having drank too much many times before, already had the waste basket ready. Within the next hour, Haley threw up about 4 times. Nathan was there rubbing her back and holding her hair out of her face the whole time. How attractive do I look right now? This is so embarrassing—and gross.

"I think I'm done," Haley declared shakily. "There's nothing left."

"Ok, just lie down. We'll wait an hour or two before I bring you home. I'll tell your mom that you were sick with a stomach bug."

"Thanks, Nathan. I'm sorry I'm such a pain in the ass," she sighed while closing her eyes.

"You're not a pain in the ass. Do you know how many times I've gotten smashed at parties and barfed?"

"I'd really rather not know," Haley replied smiling as she opened her eyes again. She all of a sudden felt really tired.

"The point is we all screw up. You saved me and now it's my turn to save you. I'll never leave you, Haley," he promised as he caressed her cheek. At his touch, Haley felt her eyelids grow even heavier.

"Good, because I don't think I can handle losing another person I love," she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep. The last thing she felt was Nathan's lips on her forehead.

"I just got off the phone with Nathan," Lucas announced as he walked back into his room. "He and Haley are at his beach house. She's not feeling well so they're going to stay there for a little while."

"That's a relief," Brooke declared. "She scared the crap out of Peyton and me." By the end of the day, the two sisters had been searching all over the school for Haley. When she and Peyton went to their lockers to put away their books, that's when Peyton noticed that her car keys and later the car were missing. Peyton called Jake for a ride and Brooke decided to go home with Lucas. I swear, I'm going to kill her later for this little stunt. Haley is supposed to be the dependable one.

"Yeah, me too," Lucas agreed. "But that's not the worst part."

"What?" Brooke asked with dread.

"Nathan caught her drinking."

"Drinking? As in fruit punch?" Brooke questioned hopefully.

"No, more like Jack Daniels."

"Damn it," she sighed as she put her head in her hands. Brooke could feel her eyes starting to water. This is such a mess.

"Hey," Lucas exclaimed as he came to sit next to her on the bed. He then put a comforting arm around her as she buried her face in his chest. "Don't cry, Brooke. We're all worried about her."

"I know," she sniffled into his shirt. "But that's not the only reason I'm crying."

"Then what is it?"

"I feel the same way as she does. I know that he's gone but the holidays just make it more real. And then I have all these memories. It reminds me of everything I've lost," she sobbed harder. For a while, neither one said anything. Brooke just cried as Lucas continued to rub her back and hair. A couple of minutes after that, she was finally all cried out.

"I'm sorry I'm such a girl," Brooke apologized sheepishly looking up at him. She always considered herself strong. She didn't like to cry in front of anyone. But in that moment, she'd lost it. Brooke needed someone to listen and to comfort her while she got everything out. And Lucas was just the person to do that with.

"Brooke, listen to me," Lucas said as he wiped the stray tears away from her eyes. "I can't imagine what it must feel like to lose a parent. I know you feel torn and hurt. But I don't think for one second that you should believe you've lost everything. I believe that things happen for a reason. Sure, your father's death was tragic and painful. But look at all the good that's come out of it."

"Like what?" she asked. "My mom's even more heartbroken, we lost our home to that bitch Olivia, Haley's drinking, I'm a mess, Peyton won't admit it but I hear her cry at night once in a while, and…"

"And that may be true but there are more positive things. If you hadn't lost the house, you wouldn't have moved to Tree Hill. We probably never would have grown so close. Peyton and Jake are together and they're happy. As for Haley, she probably just had a moment of weakness like you did now. You know she's not like that. She'll get through this. I'm sure Nathan will help with that, too."

"I thought you hated Nathan," Brooke interrupted.

"Let's just say we're somewhat getting along now and leave it at that," Lucas answered. "But that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is that all these good things have happened, too." Brooke thought about what Lucas was saying. He does have a point. Even though we're all still upset, that doesn't mean that we're not happy. I mean, who would have thought that Peyton would have become a mother figure and Haley a tutor/cheerleader dating the most popular guy in school? Plus, mom likes it here. And Tric is doing really well.

"I guess you're right," Brooke agreed a minute later. "It's just so hard sometimes."

"I know. But I'll always be here if you need me," Lucas informed her. "I love you, Brooke James." At his words, Brooke's eyes snapped up to look at his and she automatically felt a smile form on her face. He loves me? Oh my God, he loves me!

"I love you too, Lucas Scott," she replied leaning in to capture his lips. The kiss started off slow and tender but soon turned hot and urgent. As Lucas began kissing her neck, Brooke fell backwards onto the bed bringing him down on top of her.

"Um, Lucas?" Brooke questioned panting as he started to kiss his way down from her chest to the exposed skin of her stomach.

"Hmm?" he mumbled back. Wait, what was I going to say again? Lucas's kisses all over her body were making it very hard for her to think clearly.

"Where's your mom?" she finally asked. Brooke had eventually managed to get the truth out of Peyton about what really happened with their mom. She knew that Lydia wouldn't flip out over something as innocent as making out. That's when Peyton spilled the whole story. Since she would die if her mom, let alone Karen ever walked in on her and Lucas, she wanted to make sure that the coast was clear.

Lucas kissed his way back up and passionately attacked her lips before answering, "She's at the café. She won't be back for another two hours."

"Good," she replied biting down on his bottom lip—causing him to moan. "Now show me what you got, Broody."