"Do you have plans on making me an alcoholic or something?" Haley asked as she sipped her cosmopolitan.

Caitlin raised an eyebrow, "Hey, you're the one that ordered a drink, I never made you."

"Well, I can't come to a bar and not order a drink," Haley retorted before she stirred her cosmopolitan with her multicolored toothpick.

"Why not? Who the hell cares if you do or don't. This place gets enough business anyway. I don't think one drink is gonna tip the scales very much," Caitlin said matter-of-factly as she took a gulp of her Long Island Ice Tea. "Damn, this thing is gonna go straight to my head."

"And, you have work tomorrow."

"Yes," Caitlin slammed her hand down onto the table, "Thank god it's almost Friday!"

Haley laughed lightly, "I think you're drunk."

"I'm not," she replied assuredly, "I'm just a little tipsy." She frowned, "I think."

Grinning, Haley nodded, "I think you're tipsy too," she paused, "I think I am a bit too," she giggled, "Oh well!"

"Man," Caitlin complained, "We really have to stop going out on weekdays and getting 'tipsy'," she used air quotes, "That's what the weekend is for."

Haley looked around the bar, "I don't think we're the only ones."

"These are tourists," Caitlin guessed, "It doesn't matter if they get drunk or not."

"Tipsy," Haley corrected before giggling, "Hmm, maybe drunk." She paused, "Drunk is such a funny word. Have you ever thought of that? It's like drank, but with an 'u'."

Caitlin sobered up a bit and raised her eyebrow, "Okay, no more Cosmopolitans for you. How many have you had anyway?"

"I lost track after the fourth one," Haley shrugged, "Oh, well, at least now I'm not thinking about 'He who shall not be named'."

"Nathan?"

Haley scoffed dramatically, "Hello! 'He who shall not be named'!"

"Oh," Caitlin said, her eyes wide in a joking manner, "My bad."

Haley giggled, "It's alright. Besides, now I'm thinking about him anyway."

"Whatever happened with him?"

Haley shook her head and put her finger to her lips, "Shh. Can't tell."

"Come on, Haley. We've been friends for 5 years. I'm not gonna go around telling everybody. Not that anyone else even cares."

She sighed heavily before pouting, "I don't know. It's bad to bring up the past. I'll get all wide eyed and wishing I could turn back time," her fingers did a circular movement before she leaned back against the booth, "I sometimes wish I could. I'd turn it back before we started fighting all the damn time. I'd turn it back to when things were still good," Haley paused, "Before-"

She stopped herself as she found the alchohol fading off and reality returning. Finding her voice, she said softly, "Can we leave?"

Caitlin looked at her seriously before nodding, "Yeah, sure."

The humor was gone.

--

It felt like someone was pounding her head with a hammer. Or, in simpler terms, she had one hell of a hangover.

Hearing the alarm go off, Haley's hand slapped at her alarm clock as she groaned loudly. Cursing quietly, she pushed herself off the bed and into the shower, thankful that it was Friday even though it didn't feel like one.

When she finally got out of the shower, she quickly dried her hair and pushed it up into a loose ponytail before walking to her closet, quickly getting an outfit out before dressing herself. She walked back into the bathroom, surprised to see that it wasn't occupied. Running down the hallway, she saw that Caitlin's door was still closed.

"Damn," Haley cursed as she rushed into Caitlin's room, "Wake up, Caity, come on, you're gonna be late!"

"Huh?" Caitlin muttered into her pillow, "Just a few more minutes."

"You don't have a few mor minutes," Haley pushed at her, "Come on, it's already 8:30, you're gonna be late!"

Caitlin's head shot up, "It's what time?"

"8:30, let's go!"

"Oh, sht," Caitlin shot out of her bed and into the bathroom, leaving the door open so Haley could go in as well. While Haley applied her makeup, Caitlin took a quick shower.

Haley walked into the kitchen and took out the advil bottle, leaving a few on the counter for Caitlin before downing hers. She started making the coffee as she sat on the stool, waiting for Caitlin to come out of the bathroom.

Caitlin rushed into the kitchen, swallowing the pills as she downed her coffee.

"That's a bad combo."

"I could care less at the moment," Caitlin said as she grabbed her keys and rushed out the door, with Haley following behind.

"We're gonna be late," Haley said simply.

Caitlin sighed, "No, we're not. I've done this type of thing before. We'll be fine."

Haley snorted, "There's a thing called traffic."

"There's also a thing called running."

"I'm not running 30 blocks to work," Haley said as she walked into the elevator.

"We'll run to catch our usual train and we'll get there on time. Just no breakfast pit stop."

"I was looking forward to my morning fruit and muffin," Haley pouted, "Oh, well, I'll make up for it at lunch," she paused before slapping her hand against her forehead, "Crap. I totally forgot to tell you. I called Nathan and we're all going out to eat tonight."

Caitlin looked at her incredulously, "Where exactly?"

"I don't know. We're deciding that over lunch and then we'll make reservations."

"For what? Six weeks later?" Caitlin asked honestly, "Seriously, all the good places are gonna be booked and knowing these two, they won't go anything below 4 stars."

"Nathan said he had connections."

"Right, cuz I'm gonna believe everything that comes out of his mouth," Caitlin said as she rushed down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. She tried her best to powerwalk in heels but found that it was hard to keep balance and surpress her migraine.

"I believe him and if not, then hey, no dinner. Don't see me complaining."

"Please tell me I didn't force you into anything," Caitlin said guiltily.

"You didn't," Haley said honestly, "I'm doing this for me. It'll help me move on."

"Or fall for him all over again."

"Hey! I'm the pessimist."

Caitlin grinned, "I know what you mean but I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I won't be."

--

"You were late today, Ms. James," Christopher Scott said as he skimmed over the file Haley handed him.

"Good morning to you, too, Mr. Scott," Haley muttered before apologizing, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"That's good to know," Mr. Scott said as he handed the papers he wanted Haley to copy to her.

She was almost out the door when he spoke up again.

"So, I hear my nephew has taken quite an interest in you."

She turned around, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"He asks for you by name and drops by here, even though I know he despises me."

Haley frowned at his words, "It was just business."

"I'm sure he wouldn't like to hear that." Mr. Scott said simply, "He seems to like you well enough."

"As a guide," Haley said surely, "He already has a girlfriend."

"That little piece of fluff doesn't matter much. He hasn't even introduced her to the family yet."

Haley looked surprised, "I'm not sure-"

Mr. Scott stopped her and smiled, "Don't fret about it. I just thought you should know since you're usually oblivious."

His tone was light and Haley found no offense in his words.

"Well, go on now, I need those copies by the end of the hour and oh, Haley?"

She turned back, her hand on the doorknob.

"Good morning."

--

Haley leaned her forehead against the edge of the desk as she took in a few deep breaths. Being at the office, sporting a huge migraine was the last thing Haley wanted at the moment. She popped a few more pills in her mouth as she leaned back in her chair, eyes closed.

"Taking drugs now, are we?"

Haley's eyes shot open at the voice and she felt the nervousness fade away as she saw who it was, "Nathan?" She looked at her watch, "You're early."

"Better then being late."

"You've never once been early before," Haley said, laughing.

"First time for everything," Nathan said as he examined her.

"I thought I was meeting you at the hotel though."

"I got bored," he answered honestly, "Besides, I wanted to save you from your workplace again. I can always leave though-"

Haley got up quickly and stopped him, "No, no, we can leave, as in now."

Nathan grinned, "That bad?"

She nodded, "That bad."

"So, my uncle's been a slavedriver lately?" Nathan asked as the two made their way to the elevator, their pace comfortable and their steps in sync.

"Not lately," Haley said with a grin, "Seems like he's always been like this, since I first started working here."

"Yeah, my whole family seems to be into the whole overworking deal," Nathan said as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Haley raised an eyebrow, "You calling yourself an overworker?"

"Well, I guess," he laughed, "I think we both remember how I was in high school."

She smiled shortly before looking away, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes. "I remember."

Nathan cleared his throat uncomfortably and sighed, "I really hate this."

Haley looked up, startled, "What?"

"This, right here," he pointed in the space between the two, "I really hate it. This uncomfortable tension. We both-"

"Nathan," Haley forced out a laugh, "There's nothing," she cleared her throat, "In between us."

"We both have things to say, Haley."

She looked up at the elevator and stabbed at the button, wishing it would arrive faster, yet again, never realizing the irony in her actions. "No," she pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, "We don't. Why don't we just leave things as they were and just," she paused, "move on?"

"I can't move on," Nathan said intensely.

Surprised at his words, Haley looked up at him, "What?"

"You heard me."

"I know I heard you but I couldn't have possibly heard you correctly. You were the one that," she looked at him incredulously, "You left me, remember? And, you're telling me, you're the one who can't move on?" She shook her head, an unbelieving laugh escaping her lips, "This is ridiculous."

"It's the truth, Haley and I bet that if you weren't stuck with me in this elevator, you'd be running away."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Nathan."

"I don't?" He challeneged, "When we reach the lobby, promise me you'll still come to lunch with me and we'll talk."

"I don't want to talk."

"Well, we're going to have to because we can't ignore this. You're the one who wants to move on."

She looked back and him and threw his words back at him, "And, apparently, you're the one who can't so what's the point?"

"The point is we'll going gain some peace of mind and maybe-"

"Maybe what, Nathan? Go back to the way we were? Be lovers again? Or maybe, best friends?" She asked, her voice raising, "We will never go back to that and honestly, right now, I don't want to go back to that. We were in high school. We were just stupid teenagers thinking we could go up against the world when it was so obvious that we would lose. We were naive, Nathan," she said harshly, "It's as simple as that."

He shook his head, looking at her sadly. "You've changed."

"Yeah, Nathan, I have. This is who I am now," she looked at him hotly, "This is what I've become."

"Because of me," he said, slightly guilty.

"Please, don't flatter yourself," she rolled her eyes, "And, don't act like the weak and hurt little boy. We both know that's not what you're like."

Nathan's eyes narrowed at her words, "You really don't know who I am anymore."

"We've been apart for 6 years, Scott," she said, her voice nearly hysterical, "What do you think would happen? That we'd still be exactly the way we were? Maybe you haven't but I sure as hell wanted to forget what happened. And, I did. I moved on." The elevator bell rang and Haley stormed out, throwing out behind her, "Maybe, you should too."

Nathan stood unmoving in the elevator, shaking his head, "No, you really haven't."

--

Haley walked quickly for a few blocks before she pulled out her cell, quickly dialing a few numbers, hoping a certain someone would pick up.

"Yeah?"

Haley grinned, "And, a cheery good morning to you too!"

Caitlin groaned, "Man, you are way too perky for someone who's supposed to be hung over."

"I'm not anywhere near perky," Haley sighed as she slowed her pace, "You wanna go out for lunch?"

"I thought you were meeting Nathan."

"Long story."

"Give me the Cliff Notes version," Caitlin said as she sat back in her seat.

"He came to pick me up, we got into another fight and I stormed off."

"You guys seem to always get into fights. It's confusing. I mean, one moment, you're cool and meeting each other for lunch and the next, you're fighting and storming off." Caitlin grinned, "Just like a soap opera."

"This isn't funny," Haley said, slightly offended.

"Step out of your shoes and view this from my eyes."

Haley paused, "Okay, so it might be slightly amusing but still," a small laugh escaped her lips, "This is not what I called you for."

Caitlin smiled, "You feel better though, right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Good, that's what I'm here for. So, where are we going to get food?"

"Your pick today."

"You wanna go to Mandler's?" Caitlin asked as she stepped into her office elevator, "I'm in the mood for hot dogs."

"So, not only do you plan to make me an alcoholic, you wanna get me fat too."

"Yeah, right," Caitlin said sarcastically, "It's all a part of my evil plan to get you gigantic."

Haley laughed, "Alright, I'll meet you at Union Square."

"Hmm, k, bye babe and please, don't get into another fight."

"I promise, I won't."

--

"Nathan," Brooke exclaimed as she jumped up from the bed, turning off the TV when she saw the angry look in his eyes. "Look, we need to talk about a f-"

Before she could finish, she was under Nathan's strong grip and felt her back being pushed down against the bed as she struggled to breathe through Nathan's hard kisses.

Something must've happened.

Brooke knew this because this passion and desire was not directed towards her. She knew that from the start and she knew she should've stopped him.

But, he felt so good.

Moaning, Brooke pulled off his shirt and kissed his with equal fervor as he wrapped his arms around her body, pulling the clothing off of her her, not caring if he was ripping through material.

This was what she wanted. This passion, this need, this want. The flame that she and Nathan had before quickly faded out, but this, this was new. This was different and this was exactly what Brooke wanted.

It wasn't for her.

But, she could pretend.

--

"What happened?" Brooke asked softly as she gently caressed Nathan's chest.

His breathing was coming in short pants as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. He should've felt better. He should've felt.. something, something other then guilt.

But, that was all that tainted his heart at the moment. Guilt and betrayal. He should not have felt this but for some reason, it wouldn't let go. He couldn't get the feeling out of his body.

Frustrated, he leaned over and began kissing Brooke again, this time harsher in his actions.

Brooke moaned in surprise and pulled back from the kiss, "Easy, tiger, I'm not up for seconds yet. Give me some breathing time."

He didn't listen.

Gasping, Brooke moaned before she realized that his actions were getting too frenzied, too intense. Too real to the point that it broke through the shroud of lies she had put up before.

She couldn't mask this new desire that overcame Nathan.

He wanted someone else. Not her. And, it killed a part of her.

"Nathan, stop," her voice cracked as she pushed at his chest. She couldn't do ths with him. She couldn't fall into this web any further. She would only end up hating herself more then she already did. "Nathan," she said again before she pushed him off of her completely, "Stop."

He stared at her for a few moments, his eyes hard before he threw on his shirt. Not wanting to watch her break down, he turned away, hearing the sob catch in her throat. Pulling on his pants, he walked out of the hotel room, desperate for some air.

Brooke sat on the bed, the sheet covering her naked body as the tears fell from her eyes once again.

She couldn't do this anymore.