Haley paced the length of her room. Even though her and Brooke weren't
friends really, she felt for her, really felt for her. And she also felt
that Brooke shouldn't be left alone at a time like this. Haley grabbed her
jacket and purse and ran out the door and nearly collided with Lucas.
"Where are you running off to?" Luke asked, making fun of her.
Haley looked at him feeling extremely weird and nervous. "I just remembered I left something at Nathan's that I need so I can do a report," she told him. Luke looked at her and Haley felt as if he could see right through her, just like that day in the café when he found her hat in Peyton's car...
"What's going on Hales? You seem a little distracted, nervous even."
"Me? No...Never! I just am really worried about getting a good grade on this," Haley said, continuing her lie. She almost wanted to be mad at Brooke for putting in this position in the first place. But she couldn't be angry with Brooke.
"Haley James you are a horrible liar," he said, with irritation lining his voice. "Does this have something to with Nathan?" Lucas asked,
"Look Luke, I can honestly tell you this has nothing to do with me or Nathan," Haley admitted. "A friend needs help and I think I need to be there for this person.
"Who needs help Hales?" Luke asked concerned. "Is it Peyton?"
Haley inwardly grimaced at Peyton's name. She shook her head to answer him. "Luke I can't say who it is."
Lucas eyed Haley suspiciously. "Why can't you tell me Hales? I won't tell anyone."
"I gave this person my word, and I don't intend to break that promise – not even for you Luke."
He was starting to get the feeling this had to do with him. 'But who was this person that needed help?' Lucas wondered. He also knew Haley was a woman of her word, and he knew he couldn't ask her to break that. "I have a bad feeling about this Hales."
Haley looked at him strangely. "What do you mean?"
Luke sighed. "Whatever you are hiding...it must be something big. And I get the feeling that it has to do with me."
"Where would you get an idea like that?"
"Because you can barely look me in the eye," he told her. "Your foot is tapping nonstop, which is what happens when you are somewhere you don't want to be."
As Luke said this, Haley consciously stopped tapping her right foot.
'Damn Lucas,' Haley silently cursed. He knew her too well in times like this.
"What ever it may be, it's already changing things," Lucas finished softly.
Haley bit her lip and cast her eyes downward. He was right. And what would change things even more is what he does *after* Brooke gives him the news.
Haley sighed. "Look Luke I want to tell you, but I can't. It's not my place."
"I understand Haley, I do really," Luke admitted. "I'm just afraid of things changing between us. I don't want to lose my best friend because of this. We've already been distant to each other lately."
"I don't want to lose you Luke. And I really doubt that will happen," Haley said trying to quell his fears. But inside her mind was screaming, 'As long as you don't act like Dan and do what's right.' All Haley could do at the moment was keep Brooke's secret and hope for the best.
Lucas took a step towards Haley and pulled her close to him into a hug. Haley wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to let go.
"Give me a call later," Lucas said, forcing a smile. "Later Haley."
"Bye Lucas," she said, her tone soft.
'There are a lot of changes in store for the future. Can we handle them?" Haley wondered, thinking about her and Lucas, and Peyton and Brooke, too.
Haley stood there watching Lucas' form until it disappears from sight. And then she headed off to Brooke's house.
On the way to Brooke's was Karen's Café. Haley decided to stop there and pick Brooke up something to eat. Haley walked through the doors and was glad Lucas wasn't there.
'He must have gone to the river court,' Haley thought to herself with relief.
She proceeded to walk up to the counter where Karen was finishing with a customer. When that person left, Haley stepped up to the counter.
"What can I do for you Haley?" Karen greeted her with a smile.
"Just getting food to bring to a friend. She's been...sick," Haley told her.
Karen nodded. "That's sweet of you Haley, always thinking of others. I'll set you up with some good things." Karen disappeared into the back for a few moments and came back with a bag that she handed over to Haley.
"How much do I owe you?" Haley asked, taking her money out.
"Don't worry about it. Just tell Brooke I hope she feels better."
Haley nodded automatically and said, "Ok." A moment later Haley realized what Karen had said. "Wait, how did you know I was taking this to Brooke?"
"I saw her this morning. She said you had gotten her work from class for her," Karen explained. "She didn't look too well. I figured you were probably going to check on her."
"Yeah, I was – I mean am," Haley stammered. She turned to leave but turned back around. "Don't mention this to Lucas please," Haley begged. "I don't know what he would say, with Brooke bring his ex and all."
'It's never just one lie," Haley thought to herself. She had already told countless lies to two people she cared a great deal for, both that could be destroyed by Brooke's news.
Karen nodded. "I won't."
"Ok, thanks," Haley tried to say with a smile. "I just feel bad. She has no one right now and she shouldn't be alone," Haley explained in an attempt to justify these lies to herself.
"I understand. You're a good person Haley."
'That's debatable,' Haley thought to herself.
"Take good care of her. Bye Hales."
Haley walked out of the diner carrying the brown paper bag and a heavy burden on her shoulders. Immediately she felt guilty for feeling sorry for herself. Whatever she was feeling was in no way comparable to what Brooke must be going through.
Shortly there after, Haley was standing on Brooke's doorstep ringing the doorbell. It took about five minutes, but Brooke finally answered the door.
"Oh hey Haley, come in if you want to," Brooke said holding the door open. Haley crossed the threshold from outside to Brooke's foyer.
"I brought dinner," Haley told her, showing her the paper bag full of food.
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat something. If not for you than for...you know," Haley instructed, awkwardly trailing off. "Why don't you take a shower while I set dinner up?" she suggested.
Brooke reluctantly agreed. "I'll be right back." Brooke disappeared from the foyer, leaving Haley to find the kitchen.
"Aha!" Haley triumphantly said, out loud to herself. Rummaging through cabinets, she took out two bowls, and two plates. Haley filled the bowls with the still-hot chicken noodle soup, and placed the turkey club sandwiches on the plates. She found spoons and cups. Haley opened the fridge and grabbed the...apple juice to fill the cups with.
In the bottom of the bag, Karen even put two trays which Haley silently thanked her for. Haley placed all this on each tray and brought them out into the living room. Haley sat down on the couch waiting for Brooke.
About five minutes later Brooke came out of her room, looking a little better. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail and she was dressed in pajamas; a white tank top with cherries and matching pants. Brooke sat down on the couch Indian style facing Haley. "Thanks Haley," she said, noticing the tray of food. Seeing the food made her realize how hungry she really was.
"Your welcome." Haley sat Indian style as well, facing Brooke, both placing their trays in their laps.
They started eating in silence at first.
"How are you doing?" Haley asked lamely.
Brooke shrugged. "Trying to deal." After a few moments Brooke added randomly, "I changed my mind about telling Lucas."
"You can't not tell him Brooke!" Haley blurted out interrupting her.
"That's not what I mean. I decided there's no point in waiting. I think I'm going to talk to him about it this week."
"It might make things easier on you," Haley told her. 'And on me,' she added silently.
Brooke nodded. "I was never good at keeping secrets, even my own. And this one bears too much of a burden. I can't handle it. It's been eating at me since I got the phone call this morning.
She finished up her sandwich. "Besides I'd be a fool to think Lucas will come back to me," Brooke added softly. "How am I going to make it through this? Not to mention facing everyone at school."
Haley grabbed Brooke's free hand that was resting on the tray. "I'll help you Brooke. You shouldn't have to go through this alone."
Brooke smiled at Haley; a genuine smile, conveying her thanks. "Do you think Lucas is going to help?" she questioned Haley.
"I'm sure he will Brooke," Haley told her. "What are your parents going to say?" Haley asked her.
"They won't care as long as it doesn't interrupt their lives and their trips," she told Haley honestly.
"So how are you going to finish school?" Haley wondered.
Brooke answered simply. "I'm not. How can I? I don't have the family support that Jake does."
"Something will work out Brooke. You can't drop out."
"We'll see," Brooke said. "We'll see."
END PART 3
"Where are you running off to?" Luke asked, making fun of her.
Haley looked at him feeling extremely weird and nervous. "I just remembered I left something at Nathan's that I need so I can do a report," she told him. Luke looked at her and Haley felt as if he could see right through her, just like that day in the café when he found her hat in Peyton's car...
"What's going on Hales? You seem a little distracted, nervous even."
"Me? No...Never! I just am really worried about getting a good grade on this," Haley said, continuing her lie. She almost wanted to be mad at Brooke for putting in this position in the first place. But she couldn't be angry with Brooke.
"Haley James you are a horrible liar," he said, with irritation lining his voice. "Does this have something to with Nathan?" Lucas asked,
"Look Luke, I can honestly tell you this has nothing to do with me or Nathan," Haley admitted. "A friend needs help and I think I need to be there for this person.
"Who needs help Hales?" Luke asked concerned. "Is it Peyton?"
Haley inwardly grimaced at Peyton's name. She shook her head to answer him. "Luke I can't say who it is."
Lucas eyed Haley suspiciously. "Why can't you tell me Hales? I won't tell anyone."
"I gave this person my word, and I don't intend to break that promise – not even for you Luke."
He was starting to get the feeling this had to do with him. 'But who was this person that needed help?' Lucas wondered. He also knew Haley was a woman of her word, and he knew he couldn't ask her to break that. "I have a bad feeling about this Hales."
Haley looked at him strangely. "What do you mean?"
Luke sighed. "Whatever you are hiding...it must be something big. And I get the feeling that it has to do with me."
"Where would you get an idea like that?"
"Because you can barely look me in the eye," he told her. "Your foot is tapping nonstop, which is what happens when you are somewhere you don't want to be."
As Luke said this, Haley consciously stopped tapping her right foot.
'Damn Lucas,' Haley silently cursed. He knew her too well in times like this.
"What ever it may be, it's already changing things," Lucas finished softly.
Haley bit her lip and cast her eyes downward. He was right. And what would change things even more is what he does *after* Brooke gives him the news.
Haley sighed. "Look Luke I want to tell you, but I can't. It's not my place."
"I understand Haley, I do really," Luke admitted. "I'm just afraid of things changing between us. I don't want to lose my best friend because of this. We've already been distant to each other lately."
"I don't want to lose you Luke. And I really doubt that will happen," Haley said trying to quell his fears. But inside her mind was screaming, 'As long as you don't act like Dan and do what's right.' All Haley could do at the moment was keep Brooke's secret and hope for the best.
Lucas took a step towards Haley and pulled her close to him into a hug. Haley wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to let go.
"Give me a call later," Lucas said, forcing a smile. "Later Haley."
"Bye Lucas," she said, her tone soft.
'There are a lot of changes in store for the future. Can we handle them?" Haley wondered, thinking about her and Lucas, and Peyton and Brooke, too.
Haley stood there watching Lucas' form until it disappears from sight. And then she headed off to Brooke's house.
On the way to Brooke's was Karen's Café. Haley decided to stop there and pick Brooke up something to eat. Haley walked through the doors and was glad Lucas wasn't there.
'He must have gone to the river court,' Haley thought to herself with relief.
She proceeded to walk up to the counter where Karen was finishing with a customer. When that person left, Haley stepped up to the counter.
"What can I do for you Haley?" Karen greeted her with a smile.
"Just getting food to bring to a friend. She's been...sick," Haley told her.
Karen nodded. "That's sweet of you Haley, always thinking of others. I'll set you up with some good things." Karen disappeared into the back for a few moments and came back with a bag that she handed over to Haley.
"How much do I owe you?" Haley asked, taking her money out.
"Don't worry about it. Just tell Brooke I hope she feels better."
Haley nodded automatically and said, "Ok." A moment later Haley realized what Karen had said. "Wait, how did you know I was taking this to Brooke?"
"I saw her this morning. She said you had gotten her work from class for her," Karen explained. "She didn't look too well. I figured you were probably going to check on her."
"Yeah, I was – I mean am," Haley stammered. She turned to leave but turned back around. "Don't mention this to Lucas please," Haley begged. "I don't know what he would say, with Brooke bring his ex and all."
'It's never just one lie," Haley thought to herself. She had already told countless lies to two people she cared a great deal for, both that could be destroyed by Brooke's news.
Karen nodded. "I won't."
"Ok, thanks," Haley tried to say with a smile. "I just feel bad. She has no one right now and she shouldn't be alone," Haley explained in an attempt to justify these lies to herself.
"I understand. You're a good person Haley."
'That's debatable,' Haley thought to herself.
"Take good care of her. Bye Hales."
Haley walked out of the diner carrying the brown paper bag and a heavy burden on her shoulders. Immediately she felt guilty for feeling sorry for herself. Whatever she was feeling was in no way comparable to what Brooke must be going through.
Shortly there after, Haley was standing on Brooke's doorstep ringing the doorbell. It took about five minutes, but Brooke finally answered the door.
"Oh hey Haley, come in if you want to," Brooke said holding the door open. Haley crossed the threshold from outside to Brooke's foyer.
"I brought dinner," Haley told her, showing her the paper bag full of food.
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat something. If not for you than for...you know," Haley instructed, awkwardly trailing off. "Why don't you take a shower while I set dinner up?" she suggested.
Brooke reluctantly agreed. "I'll be right back." Brooke disappeared from the foyer, leaving Haley to find the kitchen.
"Aha!" Haley triumphantly said, out loud to herself. Rummaging through cabinets, she took out two bowls, and two plates. Haley filled the bowls with the still-hot chicken noodle soup, and placed the turkey club sandwiches on the plates. She found spoons and cups. Haley opened the fridge and grabbed the...apple juice to fill the cups with.
In the bottom of the bag, Karen even put two trays which Haley silently thanked her for. Haley placed all this on each tray and brought them out into the living room. Haley sat down on the couch waiting for Brooke.
About five minutes later Brooke came out of her room, looking a little better. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail and she was dressed in pajamas; a white tank top with cherries and matching pants. Brooke sat down on the couch Indian style facing Haley. "Thanks Haley," she said, noticing the tray of food. Seeing the food made her realize how hungry she really was.
"Your welcome." Haley sat Indian style as well, facing Brooke, both placing their trays in their laps.
They started eating in silence at first.
"How are you doing?" Haley asked lamely.
Brooke shrugged. "Trying to deal." After a few moments Brooke added randomly, "I changed my mind about telling Lucas."
"You can't not tell him Brooke!" Haley blurted out interrupting her.
"That's not what I mean. I decided there's no point in waiting. I think I'm going to talk to him about it this week."
"It might make things easier on you," Haley told her. 'And on me,' she added silently.
Brooke nodded. "I was never good at keeping secrets, even my own. And this one bears too much of a burden. I can't handle it. It's been eating at me since I got the phone call this morning.
She finished up her sandwich. "Besides I'd be a fool to think Lucas will come back to me," Brooke added softly. "How am I going to make it through this? Not to mention facing everyone at school."
Haley grabbed Brooke's free hand that was resting on the tray. "I'll help you Brooke. You shouldn't have to go through this alone."
Brooke smiled at Haley; a genuine smile, conveying her thanks. "Do you think Lucas is going to help?" she questioned Haley.
"I'm sure he will Brooke," Haley told her. "What are your parents going to say?" Haley asked her.
"They won't care as long as it doesn't interrupt their lives and their trips," she told Haley honestly.
"So how are you going to finish school?" Haley wondered.
Brooke answered simply. "I'm not. How can I? I don't have the family support that Jake does."
"Something will work out Brooke. You can't drop out."
"We'll see," Brooke said. "We'll see."
END PART 3