Title: Cheerleaders
Author: Joy
Email: Julianna@ziplip.com Rating: PG-13
A/N: If anyone has issue with the way I am dealing with Haley's amnesia let me just say it was based on my own. All of the ways memories come back to her are the ways they have come back to me so...I've never met anyone else who has had serious memory loss so I'm just going with what I know.
16.
Haley sat quietly in her hospital room trying to remember the last few months. There were images, brief flashes of memories, and partial statements haunting her brain. It was weird to have everyone avoid telling her what had happened. It was just refereed to as 'the accident'. It was this great secret that no one was willing to share. She didn't remember a lot about the first few minutes after she woke up and she knew there were things said that should have made sense to her but didn't...and now she couldn't remember what they were or what was even said.
Lucas's account of the last few months was less than stellar and left huge gaping holes. Haley had no idea what possessed Luke to join the basketball team. She was proud of him sure but to subject himself to Nathan Scott must have been hell.
The doctors wanted to re-introduce people into her life in an attempt to let her brain catch up without forcing the point. It was to see what memories specific individuals spawned. Haley got the distinct feeling that there was at least one person they were purposely keeping away or was unavailable at the moment. This person, whoever it was, seemed to be the key to her memory block.
Haley had overheard the doctor say that the more emotionally stressful the relationship she had the more difficult the brain would have retrieving the memories, since the brain would naturally attempt to protect itself from further pain. But by the same token if the events that were painful were important in some way the mind would let them surface. In Haley's estimation the doctor' really didn't know how her memories were going to come back and they were just covering their butts.
These thoughts were still looming as the door to her room swung open and there was Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer. Two Cheerleaders...She was friends with two cheerleaders. She had to have woken up in the Twilight Zone for this to be right. Haley had of course been told she was a friend of Peyton's though she didn't believe it until the minute the girl stood before her (I mean why would the almighty Peyton Sawyer visit the likes of Peasant Haley unless they were friends), but no one had mentioned Brooke as part of the deal.
"Hey there Tutor Girl," Brooke cooed as she entered the room. "We need to spring you from this unflattering light and costume," she murmured touching the paper gown she was still stuck in. (Her mother was supposed to back with some pajamas and an outfit or two soon.)
Peyton saw the rising panic in Haley's eyes. "You don't remember us being friends...do you?"
She shook her head, "Lu...Lucas mentioned you would be dropping by. I had to assume that meant something had changed."
Brook smirked, "You could say that."
Haley saw her moment to get some answers from these people and smiled, "Can you tell me how this all happened? I'm getting really tired of people leaving stuff out of conversations 'for my own good'."
Peyton shook her head, "The doctor wouldn't let us in until we promised not to talk about the accident. He says your mind is fragile or what not. I think they are assuming you're highly suggestible right now or something."
"Really," Brook perked up lying at the foot of the bed. She looked hard in Haley's eyes and did strange wavy motions with her hands in front of her, "You will break up with Lucas so Brooke and Peyton can each have a shot..." Peyton glared at her. "What? It's not like we don't all know in the end Lucas will come back and marry her eventually. I would just like a chance before the impending nuptials."
"Huh?" Haley said quite confused. She turned to Peyton who by now had taken up residence in the chair next to Haley's bed. She was scribbling something in a drawing pad. It seemed so familiar.
Brooke continued, "Not that you really like Lucas that much anymore. Your eyes seem to be more focused on another member of the basketball team. One with a small baby named Jenny."
Peyton blushed.
"Someone on the basketball team has a baby?" Haley asked.
"Jake," Peyton confirmed.
"Wow," Haley mumbled. She saw the ease that Peyton felt with her and felt a real peace back, though Brooke still inspired a shock of cold down her spine for some reason.
Lights seemed to flash behind Haley's eyes for a moment and she touched her temple on instinct. "You okay?" Peyton asked worried as Brooke looked on in concern.
"Yeah...just flashback...Jumbles of words and images...I feel like I'm stuck in the movie Memento," Haley grumbled.
"One of Peyton's favorite movies," Brooke observed lying on her side.
Haley turned to Peyton quizzically, "We talked about me being a virgin. Why did we do that?"
Peyton's eyes got big but then began to calculate her answer, "You dated a guy before Lucas that you weren't sure what he wanted from you."
"But why would I be talking to you about it?" Haley questioned.
"I..." Peyton began. Brooke raised her eyebrows and nudged her to continue. "I broke up with Nathan Scott because he was an ass and because I liked Lucas...I guess you could say its Lucas's fault we're friends. We just got each other."
"And you?" Haley inquired of Brooke.
She shrugged, "I got high one night after a game. You missed the van back, so Peyton drove us home. But in my stupor I invited you along so...It's weird. Plus of course Lucas is a hottie."
"Okay so... I have no problem with the fact that you both lust after my boyfriend?" Haley asked.
Brooke smirked, "As of a few days ago he was still on the market and you had just become available. Peyton and I were both up for your part in this little drama we call life...I got him drunk and a tattoo but he chose you." She gave a real smile, "You actually do like us, and we'll only steal Lucas occasionally. No more drinking and tattoos…Promise…Beside Peyton's already moving on and so will I. I just need to find a nice guy for a change."
Haley smiled despite herself. "So you love me for my boyfriend."
Peyton chuckled, "And your advice, and your kindness...and your friendship."
"What she said," Brook pointed at Peyton.
Brooke sat up on the bed, "So when will they let you out of here?"
"Day or two I guess. Want to make sure I don't slip into a coma or something."
"Good...so we will get to see the infamous dress at the Winter Formal after all," Brooke said cheerily. "I will be stepping out with Tim for the night." She turned to Peyton, "Don't let me drink or sleep with him okay?"
"Wait what? Winter Formal? Why the hell would I have agreed to go to the Winter Formal?" Haley questioned.
Peyton bit her lip, "Your ex and you were going but you broke up. You already had a pretty expensive dress that your parents splurged on so you still had to go. Lucas jumped in as the knight."
"Why do I get the feeling my ex is the big elephant in the room?" Haley asked.
Peyton shrugged, "Until he comes by I don't think it would be good for us to tell you..."
"It's not like you would believe us anyway," Brook offered with a smirk. "When you want to punch someone find me. I set you up on your first date with him so I am to blame..."
"My life just can't get any weirder," Haley said shaking her head.
"Just wait 'till you find out who you were dating," Brooke offered.
"You'll think about committing yourself," Peyton claimed.
"This cannot be good," Haley observed.
Both cheerleaders just laughed.
Tbc…
A/N: I know its on the short side but...next chapter is the show down.