Hey Henka, missed ya!

Liar Liar, Pants On Fire

The bright light streaming from between the blinds was what woke Nathan up the next morning. He blinked twice before stretching slowly and turned his head to glance at his alarm clock, but his eyes rested on Haley instead. He lifted his head with a start and then slowly lay back, his eyes studying the contours of her face as she slept. They had talked late into the night and neither of them had meant to, but evidently they'd fallen asleep right where they lay...on his bed. He smiled faintly as he stared at her. He'd forgotten how innocent she looked while she slept. It was something he used to tease her about when they were married, how he sometimes felt like he was sleeping with some wide-eyed fairy-tale nymph whenever he woke up beside her. She always looked so small and peaceful and lovely lying there beside him. Back then, it had been all he could do not to wake her up and ravish her over and over again...

He felt his heartbeat begin to increase inside his chest as his eyes travelled across her face. It felt so familiar to him, being this close to her, smelling her watermelon-scented hair. It almost felt like the past year hadn't happened at all, like they were still married...like she still belonged to him.

Her hair was in her face and he couldn't help reaching for a stubborn curl resting against her cheek but after he brushed it away, his fingers stayed where they were and he touched her face gently. A strange feeling of familiarity mixed with nostalgia and regret spread through him and he frowned, wishing it away...just as she opened her eyes.

She looked at him for a moment blinkling sleepily as he smiled, before she slowly smiled back with a tired grin of her own.

"I guess we talked ourselves to sleep." she murmured.

"We?" Nathan chuckled. "I beg to differ. Your voice is the last thing I remember hearing, Lil' Red. I believe the words school rocks and valedictorian were the last words you uttered. No wonder I dozed off..."

Haley mouth fell open and she stuck her tongue out goodnaturedly. "Whatever, jealous." she giggled. "Just remember those words next summer when I'm up on the podium giving my speech." she said proudly.

Nathan's grin softened."I will." he said. They smiled at each other...until Haley suddenly remembered where she was and whose hand was on her cheek, caressing it gently. Nathan saw the look in her eyes change from one of peaceful haziness to sudden dawning realization and... some other emotion he couldn't quite fathom. It looked like guilt but that couldn't be it, that wouldn't make sense. Even so, she pulled away just as he dropped his hands and they lay there in ackward silence, both contemplating what to say as the light peeking through his curtains grew brighter.Haley slowly sat up and looked at his bedside clock and her eyes widened with alarm.

"That can't be right." she murmured, climbing off the bed. Nathan sat up and looked at the time.

"Yeah, that's about right."

Haley stared at him. "That's the right time?" she cried."It's one-thirty!"

Nathan chuckled. "Haley, it's okay. I'm not sure but...I think you won't be grounded."

Haley exhaled loudly and looked around the floor for her shoes. "It's not that Nathan, it's just that Lu..."

Her voice faded away as he waited expectantly and she bit her bottom lip aware that she had almost let everything slip out in her anxiety.

"It's just that what?"

Haley took a deep breath. "It's just that...lunchtime is long gone and we're only just waking up. Peyton and the others must be wondering if I'm still alive."

Nathan sat up. "Well, they know you're here. I'm sure they aren't worried Hales."

Haley found her shoes and slipped them on. "I know but still...I need to go." she looked at him. "Can you drive me home?"

Nathan looked at her confused. "Okay, I'll take you home." he said jumping off his bed. "But how about we grab lunch or something first? I've been wanting to try out that new mexican restaurant over on Kay street and I heard they make a mean chicken quesadilla." he smiled at her, his eyebrows arched, his eyes hopeful. "What do you say?"

Haley stared at him. At any other time that would have sounded great, but that day...Her mind wandered as she thought about Lucas and what must be going through his head. She couldn't do that to him. After the way they'd left it the night before,she was sure that he was going out of his mind. She needed to see his face, wanted to see his smile. She wanted him to hold her and know that everything would be all right. But more than that, she knew that they needed to talk about everything they'd avoided talking about the night before...and they needed to do it now. She shook her head.

"I need to get home Nate." she said apologetically. "Raincheck?"

Nathan tilted his head charmingly. "Hales! Come on, it'll be fun and I know you're hungry. Please? With an NBA championship on top?"

She giggled at his expression and was shaking her head just as his phone rang...

"Think about it." he said grinning. He flipped open his phone. "Talk."

"Hey Nate, it's Brooke. Don't say my name just listen."

Nate frowned. "Okay..." he said slowly.

"I need to see you like right now." Brooke said hurriedly. "Do you know that new mexican restaurant on Kay street? Meet me there in fifteen minutes."

"Can't. Have plans."

"Please Nathan! I really need to talk to you, it's an emergency. Just meet me there, I'll tell you all about it as soon as I see you,okay? Later."

She hung up and Nathan listened to the dial tone for a long moment before he closed his phone with a sigh.

Haley looked at him curiously. "What was that all about?"

Nathan sighed dramatically. "Just some random, hot cheerleader asking me out on a date." he said breezily. He looked at her. "So I'll take your raincheck and raise it with a raincheck of my own."

Haley smiled. "I like those odds."she joked. Then she frowned goodnaturedly. "Wow, dumped in the span of one whole minute.That must be a record somewhere in the world."

Nathan schrugged. "Hey, I'm an athlete,and she's a cheerleader. It's like peanut butter and jelly. One always ends up on top of the other."

Haley's mouth fell open. "Ewww! You're such a jock..." she teased.

"Hey, you married me." he pointed out.

Haley nodded thoughfully. "How true..." She looked at him curiously."So this cheerleader, does she have a name?"

Nathan averted his eyes as he walked to his bureau. "I'm pretty sure she does, but all I heard was cheerleader."

At Haley's wry smile, he grinned and pulled off his shirt.

"Oooh an actual cheerleader." she teased." Wouldn't want to keep her waiting, would we."

"Not if we're male and breathing, nope." he said smoothly.

Haley shook her head as he tossed his shirt on the hamper. "Some things never change."

Nathan looked at her as he sorted through his drawer, looking for a clean shirt. He held one up for her approval but she made a face and he put it back.

"Actually, I beg to differ oh wise Red-headed One." he said holding up another shirt. She gave him a thumbs-up sign and he pulled it on.

"Oh really." she said walking over to him to help him with his collar. "How so?"

"Well, who would have thought that you, my ex-wife would one day be helping me get ready for a date with another girl?"

Haley paused, her hands motionless on his collar. She nodded. "Touche." she agreed."You seemed to have won this round Scott."

Nathan smiled smugly and she pushed him away.

"But don't forget, looks can be deceiving." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "I'll be in the car. Waiting ever so patiently..." she winked and turned to walk out of the room. Nathan stared after, waiting until she left before the smile faded from his mouth. He looked into the mirror and stared at his drawn face as the ache in his chest that he'd woken with, continued to spread to his heart.

"Looks can be deceiving?" he whispered. "Don't I know it." he said softly."Don't I know it."


When Haley got home, she walked in and closed the front door softly behind her. She didn't call out and the house was quiet and still...and very reminiscent of the day before when she'd found Lucas and Brooke... together. She felt her heart lurch involuntarily inside her chest and she leaned against the door. Haley, calm down.She told herself firmly.What happened yesterday will never happen again.It won't...She took a deep breath and walked through the kitchen towards Lucas room. On her way, she passed Brooke and Peyton's but she didn't look inside. She only wanted to see one face at that moment. Just one...

Lucas bedroom door was partly open and she peeked in. He was standing by his window staring out and she watched him for a moment as he stared intently at the sky.He seemed deep in thought and she almost didn't want to interrupt him. Almost.

"Hey you." she said softly. He turned at the sound of her voice and his eyes held so much emotion that they brought tears to her own.

"Hey." he said simply. And then they were moving towards each other...and she was in his arms. And he was kissing her cheeks and her forehead...and her mouth. They held each other tightly and a little desperately as they kissed, as if by doing so they could become one. They could melt into each other a little bit and never let go and not face anything but one another...but she knew that was impossible. They were seperate people who had to deal with a very real issue. No amount of kissing would change that.

No matter how mind-blowing it was...

She made herself pull away from him. "Lucas--"

"I missed you." he said quietly. "Last night. I wanted to be with you so much."

Haley's eyes softened. "I know." she whispered. "Me too. I missed you too. But I had to get away for a little while---"

"I understand." he said nodding resolutely. "I know you needed that."

She turned and looked at the door. "Brooke and Peyton?"

"They went shopping. Peyton said that they'd probably take a few hours."

Haley nodded slowly. Lucas hands were on her cheeks and she looked into his eyes as they pierced her own.They were silent for a long moment. Then Lucas took her hands in his.

"We have to talk about it, Haley." he said quietly.

Haley looked away."I know. I just don't...I don't know what to say."

"Tell me what you're thinking, how you feel--"

Haley shook her head. "I can't." she said brokenly. "I don't even know how I feel about what happened."

Lucas nodded. "You do, Haley." he said."I can see it in your eyes. You're feeling a lot. Tell me." When she didn't say anything, he tilted her head so that he could look into her eyes.

"Haley." he said softly. "I want you to know that what happened between me and Brooke was a mistake. A horrible mistake that I can't undo, no matter how much I want too. But I never meant for any of it to happen---"

"I know---"

"Do you?" he asked her intently. She pulled away and his eyes followed her to his bureau. She stared down at the picture of them when they were younger.

"Haley."he said slowly."I don't think you really, trully believe that what happened between Brooke and me was a mistake and I understand that. I mean, how can I expect you to believe that I don't remember anything we did, or how it happened? How can I expect you to believe something that doesn't even make sense to me?" he looked at her. "But that's the truth. I don't know why I did it--any of it, because I didn't want to be with Brooke and I still don't. I'm in love with you. I only want to be with you."

Haley looked into his eyes. "And I believe that Luke. I know that you love me and I want to believe that what happened was just an unplanned mistake." she said earnestly."But there's this small part of me that just can't let it go.I just don't understand how you could end up in bed with her...by accident. It doesn't make sense!"

A tear ran down her face and he was at her side in an instant. He took her hands again and held them tightly in his.

"I'm sorry, Haley." he whispered wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry! What can I do? How can I make this better?"

Haley looked into his eyes. "I don't know." she said shaking her head."I don't know Lucas." He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers and her tears touched his face.

"But I do know that I love you." she said softly. He opened his eyes and stared into hers. "And I know that you would never hurt me." she took a deep breath. "So whatever happened between you guys yesterday, had to be a mistake because being with you feels too right to be what's wrong. And if this is what should be...then what happened with you and Brooke was the mistake...not us."

Lucas smiled slowly, brushing her hair from her cheek. "No, not us." he said. They smiled at each other as he touched her hair and he tilted his head."Can you hug me now?" he asked softly.

Haley smiled. "Yes." she said sliding her arms around his waist. "but only if you kiss me."

Lucas eyes were shiny with emotion as he looked at her. "Your wish," he said kissing her forehead gently. "is my command."

He held her closely as his mouth touched hers, his lips brushing alluring against her again and again. It was a passionate kiss, soft but filled with emotion and his gentleness touched her heart. He poured everything he felt into that kiss. Love, passion, regret, relief, desire--Haley felt everything that he felt at that moment as his lips pressed against hers and his tongue penetrated her mouth, stilting her breath as her heartbeat increased. She felt a slow heat begin to rise steadily inside of her. Lucas mouth left hers to burn a pathway down her throat to her collarbone and she felt her body ignite with a warm heat.

"Haley...?" Lucas whispered against the pulse in her throat. Her name was a question on his lips and she knew what he was asking but she didn't answer him. Instead she backed away towards his bed, her hand in his leading the way. She pushed the straps of her camisole from her shoulder and watched as his eyes darkened to a deep blue.

"Make love to me, Lucas." she said softly easing onto his bed. His arms were around her in an instant pulling her close as his lips crashed into hers. His body covered her own, their heat enveloping one other as their clothes quickly found their way to the floor.

And their bodies melded together as if they were made for each other from the very beginning.


Brooke glanced at her watch impatiently.

Nathan was twenty minutes late and it was making her bad mood even worse. She'd woken with a headache that no pill could seem to ease and on top of that,Peyton had had little to no sympathy for her. In fact, her friend had been acting strangely all day. As if she had the right! On top of that Lucas had locked his door and wouldn't respond to any of her knocks or cajoling eventhough she'd used all her best stuff. He'd even claimed he wasn't feeling well and thought it might be a stomach bug that he didn't want her to catch. But she knew the truth. He was upset over Haley's impromptu slumber party with Nathan and Brooke's parting words to him the night before couldn't have made things any better, but still...considering the whopping secret-lie he was keeping from her, he could have been a little more accommadating to her. And then to add insult to injury, he'd suggested that she go shopping with Peyton so that she wouldn't catch whatever he had just so he could get rid of her.

Brooke frowned to herself. Like she was some pesky house-guest that he didn't want around! Her frown deepened as she remembered Peyton's expression. Surprisingly, Peyton didn't seem to want her around either and she couldn't figure out why. She'd quickly asked Brooke to go shopping with her after Lucas had suggested it and she had oblidged, but she was starting to grow weary of the strangely-disappointed looks that Peyton had been shooting her all day. And when they continued even after Brooke treated her to a shopping spree at Rocked Hard, Peyton's favorite CD store, she decided that she'd had enough.

She'd told Peyton that she was going to go look at shoes, a chore she knew her friend would quickly abstain from--which she had. And after agreeing to meet her in an hour, she'd called Nathan and driven to Chacha's, the new mexican restaurant that had recently opened up in Tree Hill. And now here she was waiting for Nathan who was really going to get a piece of her mind if he ever showed up!

She sighed with irritation as the waiter who'd seated her approached her again. "Ma'am are you ready to order?" he asked politely. She glared at him.

"Do I look like I eat?" she seethed. The waiter's face reddened as he stared at her. "Go away." she said dismissively. The waiter hurried away from the table and Brooke shook her hair from her forehead.

"Great. Now he won't come back for my order."

Brooke looked up as Nathan pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. She frowned.

"It's about time!" she said irritatedly. "What, did you get lost at your house or something? I know jocks are stupid but I thought that you could at least tell time!"

Nathan glared at her. "Nice to see you too Brooke. Bye." He stood to go but Brooke caught his hand

"Sorry." she said quickly. He looked at her. "Really Nate, I'm sorry. " she said sincerely. "I've just had a rough morning and I took it out on you. I'm sorry, please stay."

Nathan exhaled loudly and sat back down with a short nod. He picked up a menu but Brooke could tell that he wasn't seeing the items on it even though he was staring at them intensely. Her eyes narrowed as she peered closely at him, noticing for the first time a slight resemblance between him and Lucas. Both of their jawlines became very prominent when they were upset and right then---Nathan was more than a little rattled. And Brooke had a pretty good idea why.

She cleared her throat. "So...what took you so long?" she asked absently glancing at her menu. Nathan glanced at her before looking back down at his.

"I had to drop Haley off first." he said shortly.

Brooke nodded slowly. "Oh." she said. "So how's that going?"

Nathan scowled at her. "How's what going Brooke?" he asked.

Brooke leaned closer to him. "How are you and Haley going?" she asked. "Are things...progressing?"

Nathan shot her a look. "Listen Brooke, Haley and I are just friends, okay? And we only just started back on that track. So that's it. We're just friends, nothing more.End of subject."

Brooke nodded thoughtfully. "Okay." she said again. " I just thought..." she schrugged. "Oh well,never mind what I thought. I guess it doesn't really matter."

Nathan looked at her. "What did you think?"

Brooke schrugged again. "I don't know, the way you look at her and the way she looks at you...I guessI just thought that there were still feelings there--"

"There are still feelings there." Nathan interrupted. "There will always be feelings there Brooke, she's my ex-wife. But that's it. Haley and I will never be together like that again. It's over."

Brooke watched as his expression fell after his last comment. The relationship might be over for Haley, she thought but it wasn't over for Nathan. No, he was still feeling Haley in a very big way! He was obviously still in love with her whether he realized it or not and for a moment Brooke paused as she watched him. She needed Nathan in order to get to the final phase in her plan but... what she had planned could potentially break his heart. It might even destroy what little of his and Haley's relationship they'd managed to salvage from the debris of their failed marriage.

No matter how arrogant and sometimes cruel Nathan had been throughout their friendship, he had never hurt Brooke the way the others had. Even now at what was obviously a bad time for him, Nathan was there for her when she needed him. He really didn't deserve to feel any of the wrath she intended to bring down on her three other so-called friends.

She looked at him thoughtfully. Then again, she really did need his help in order to end the whole charade. Although he was completely unaware of it, Nathan was the key in the last phase and without him, none of it would happen the way she planned. She bit her lip. It really couldn't be helped. Nathan was going to be hurt when the truth came out anyways. What did it matter how he found out? He'd probably never speak to her again when he realized how she'd used him and she felt a touch of sadness at that thought. She'd always had a special place in her heart for Nathan because out of all their friends, they were the most alike and more importantly, they both loved to party. She would really miss him...

She looked at him resolutely. She just needed him to help her with this one last thing.Then she'd leave his heart alone--and she'd make it up to him. She knew at least five cheerleaders who would give their right cheer-arms to help her.And anyways, he'd be better off without Haley in his life.Heck, at the end of it all, he'd probably even thank her for opening up his eyes! She was sure he would...

She took a deep breath. "Nathan, I really think that you and Haley still have a shot at being together...and I think that a part of you wants that shot more than anything."

Nathan frowned at her, his eyes hard in his head, ready to deny what she'd said, but then they softened and he looked away.

"Brooke, Haley and I are just friends." he repeated, but this time his voice was softer and filled with pain. Brooke felt her heart lurch guiltily inside her chest but she continued.

"But you don't want that do you?" she asked gently. "You want more."

Nathan looked at her wordlessly and Brooke nodded.

"Well, did you ever think that maybe Haley wants more too? That maybe she's just afraid to bring it up because she's the one that hurt you?"

Nathan frowned. "Did she...did she say that?" he asked.

Brooke looked away hoping that her expression held just the right amount of guilt over saying too much and regret for being found out. She glanced back at Nathan to see what he was thinking. And for a moment, she regretted what she'd told him. His eyes were filled with a slowly dawning hope as he stared off into the distance. And his smile--his smile was so bright that it took Brooke back to a time when they were kids and he was still innocent and naive about life. A time before he knew of his talent and his looks and what it meant that he was wealthy. A time when he was just Nathan, her friend. And at that moment, she felt very low. Lower than she ever had. She opened her mouth.

"Nathan--"

"So what else did she say?" he asked excitedly.

Brooke closed her mouth. It was too late. The damage was done and she had to finish what she'd started.

She was going to burn in hell.

"Well, she said that she missed you." she said slowly."She said more than anything, she missed being held by you and when you kissed her."

Nathan grinned. "She said that?" he asked brightly. Brooke felt her head begin to pound. Her headache was on its way back in full force and...she deserved it. She nodded wordlessly and Nathan looked away, smiling into thin air like Haley was right there beside him. Brooke sighed. Keep going, Davis, she told herself. Finish what you started.

"I have an idea!" she said as if the thought had just struck her at that moment and not weeks ago.Nathan looked at her.

"What?" he asked curiously.

"Why don't you ask Haley to go with you to the grand re-opening of TRIC tomorrow night?" she said excitedly."I bet she'll say yes."

Nathan looked at her skeptically. "Do you think?"

"I know!" Brooke said emphatically. Nathan nodded slowly.

"I think that you should take her to the re-opening and sometime when you get a moment, you should tell her how you feel. And then...kiss her. You know, one of those kisses that she's been missing so much."

Nathan stared at her. "You don't think that would be too much...too soon?"

Brooke shook her head."No! You guys were each other's first love! I mean, you were married! I think that kissing her would remind you both of what you once had."

Nathan tilted his head thoughtfully.He hated to admit it but Brooke's suggestion sounded pretty good. He wanted to be with Haley again more than anything and the fact that she wanted to get back together with him too,lit up his world. He missed her so much, it literally hurt him when he had to drop her off that day. That's why he'd been so late. He'd driven around trying to shake off the feeling for a few minutes before seeing Brooke but it hadn't worked. Until now. Now he knew the truth and he felt---happier than he had in a long time. Haley wanted him back too! He couldn't wait to tell her how he felt, how much he'd missed her and how much he needed her in his life.He couldn't wait to hold her again...and kiss her.He was going to do it. He would tell her everything. At TRIC.

Brooke watched him. "So, what do you think?"

He grinned at her. "Brooke Davis." he said. "I think that you're a genius." He picked up her hand and kissed it and she struggled to keep the smile on her face, eventhough inside she felt like curling up and dying. She'd trully become a cold, heartless bitch. And it was all Lucas and Haley's fault. She grinned brightly. Oh, they are going to pay, she thought silently. They are so going to pay for making me do this.

Nathan smiled at her as he picked up his menu. "So," he said slowly. "Why did you need to meet me anyways?"

Brooke frowned. "What?"

"The emergency you told me about on the phone?" he said slowly. "What's up?"

Brooke smiled. "Oh that." she said dismissively. "It's okay now. I heard that they were thinking about cutting cheerleading this year and I thought if anyone knew about it, it'd be you but then I bumped into Mouth at the mall and he told me that it was all just a rumor so..." she dimpled. "Thanks anyways."

Nathan frowned at her in disbelief. "Are you serious?" he asked."You called and asked me to meet you...for that?"

Brooke smiled. "Uh, huh." She glanced at her watch and stood. She only had ten minutes to book it to the mall to meet Peyton and she was sure she'd be late but as she looked at Nathan, her smile widened. Oh well, Grumpy can wait, she thought with satisfaction.I think I'll take the long way to the mall... She opened her bag and dropped a fifty on the table.

"Hate to not eat and run but I've got to go," she said breezily. "Lunch is on me." She kissed Nathan's forehead and started to back away from the table. "So, hey I'll see you at TRIC tomorrow night?"

Nathan stared at her wordlessly and she waved. "Okay, see you there! Ta!"

She hurried out of the restaurant leaving a bewildered Nathan shaking his head. He turned and stared at the fifty she'd left just as the waiter he'd seen earlier walked up to his table.

"Can I take your order sir?" he asked politely. Nathan picked up the menu and surveyed it slowly. Since he was already there...

"I'll have the number three with a beer to drink please."

"ID?"

"Make that a rootbeer." he said swiftly.The waiter smiled knowingly and took the menu that Nathan handed him along with Brooke's abandoned menu and glass of water. He turned to go but stopped and looked at Nathan quizzically.

"May I ask...was that your girlfriend, sir?" the waiter asked.

"Brooke?"Nathan said shaking his head quickly. "Oh, no. She's just a friend of mine. No, she's definitely not my girlfriend." He paused. "My girlfriend--actually my ex-wife is much nicer."

The waiter looked surprised. "Ex-wife and still in high-school?" Nathan nodded. "Wow." he said. He looked at Brooke's empty seat. "Still, you're a brave man..."

Nathan chuckled. "Thanks, but she's not usually like that. She just thought she got some very bad news today and it put her in a mood. Usually she's a koala bear. Really."

The waiter nodded slowly his eyes wide with disbelief. "Sure." he said as he started to move away. "I understand. I have three sisters and the way she was acting...let's just say that I've seen more than my share of upset girls. I mean, it sucks getting dumped."

Nathan grinned. "Dumped?" he said. "Oh, no, she wasn't dumped." The waiter looked surprised and Nathan chuckled. "Sorry, man but you were wrong. She got some other bad news."

The waiter frowned. "Really? I'm usually pretty good at reading these things..." he schrugged. "Oh well. Everyone's wrong sometime."

Nathan smiled nodding. "Don't worry about it, we all have off days. But anyways, no one dumps Brooke Davis." He chuckled, amused at the thought. "No one in his right mind anyway! I feel sorry for the poor bastard who'd even try."