Brooke stood before her mirror surveying her outfit. A black short sleeve t- shirt and jeans. She lifted her tee-shirt up and rubbed her belly. She couldn't imagine what she would be looking like soon...

She sighed and fixed her tee shirt. She had to talk to Lucas today before she chickened out and changed her mind.

'Well maybe not today,' Brooke thought. 'At least by Friday.'

Brooke grabbed her book bag and headed out the door. In minutes Brooke was walking up the steps and entering Tree Hill High, except compared to Friday she felt different; today she wasn't worrying about the little things. She had bigger problems on her plate.

At her locker, Brooke took out the books she needed for her classes. She looked down the hall and saw Lucas watching Peyton. She slammed her locker door shut, and started walking in the direction of class, passed Lucas and Peyton. She felt Peyton's eyes on her, but couldn't look at her. She couldn't believe Peyton was still trying to seriously be friends again.

'She lied to my face,' Brooke thought.

She walked into English class and slid into her seat, followed by Peyton, who slid into the seat next to Brooke. Brooke cast a sideways glance at her and changed her seat to the last one in the row.

She couldn't deal with this now, let alone deal with Peyton. She wasn't sure if things would ever get better between then. Brooke turned her attention to school work for a change and concentrated hard on her English test.

The first half of the day went by in a blur for Brooke. Her body was pretty much on autopilot, walking her through her day.

'I have to quit school anyway soon...why am I even here?'

Brooke stood outside of the cafeteria debating about whether or not to go in. Deciding against it, she walked outside into the courtyard. She sits down underneath a tree in the shade, a ways away from the doors to the cafeteria.

Haley sees Brooke through the windows in the cafeteria. "Nathan, I'll be right back."

Nathan kisses her on her cheek, and Haley leaves. She makes her way through the cafeteria and outside to the courtyard. She walks, and takes a seat next to Brooke.

"Hey."

Brooke seems surprised to see her. "Hey."

"What's up?" Haley asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing really. Just trying to get through today."

"Did you talk to Luke yet?"

Brooke laughed and shook her head no. "I was going to do it today. But I don't think it's the right time..."

Haley looked at her, "So you mean you chickened out?"

"Basically."

"Just don't not tell him," Haley warned.

"I know, I know," Brooke told her, rolling her eyes. "Ya know Haley James, you a really good person. Here you are helping me when I made your life hell..." Brooke trailed off.

Haley shrugged. "That's in the past. Let's let bygones be bygones. I believe people are entitled to second chances."

"So I take it your idea of a perfect date is no longer me getting hit by a bus?"

She laughed. "I forgot about that! Well I have to say...the Brooke I know now is not the Brooke I knew then."

"Is that a good thing?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah. You deserved the second chance. You've changed a lot since the night of that party."

Haley and Brooke just sat there in silence for the last few moments of lunch, until the bell rang signaling them to get back to their schedules.

"Looks like we better get to class," Haley said standing up. She extended her hand and helped Brooke up.

"Yeah let's go." Brooke and Haley avoided going into the doors to the cafeteria, but entered the mix of students in the hallway.

* * *

Lucas watched Haley leave the cafeteria...without Nathan. He made his way over to the window and watched her. He saw her go over to this tree and sit down. By the way she talked with her hands he could tell she was talking to someone; Thus leaving him wondering who it was. Finally the bell rang and Haley stood up first and then helped the other person up. And Lucas saw it was ... Brooke.

'What would Brooke need help with?' he wondered.

Luke made his was through the throng of people exiting the cafeteria trying to catch up with Haley. He waited until Brooke separated from Haley, and Haley started to make her way to the gym. He fell in step with Haley.

"Hey."

"Hey Lucas what's up?" Haley greeted him, smiling.

Lucas shrugged. "Nothing really, just wondering...since when are you and Brooke so close?"

Haley's eyes went wide. "I...uh..."

"It's her. That's who needs help," Lucas said, putting it together. "Why does she need your help?"

"Luke, please do not press me on this. You know I can't tell you," Haley said warningly.

"It involves me though doesn't it?"

Haley said nothing; she would not agree nor disagree. "If it involves you Lucas you will eventually find out," she said simply.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.

Lucas' gaze bore through her and she thought for sure Lucas could read her mind; see everything Haley was helping Brooke hide. "Maybe you should work on things...ya know make things right with Brooke."

"She hates me now," he interrupted her.

"Look Luke, I know what's going on with her, so trust me when I say that she could use another friend," Haley told him. "She opened up to you before Luke. Maybe you can help her...if she's willing to let you."

Lucas nodded. "Thanks Haley."

"Do you still care about her Luke?"

He answered with out hesitation, "I do."

"In what way?" she pushed, ignoring the late bell.

"I'm not sure anymore."

Haley sighed. "Do you still care for Peyton?"

"I don't know," Lucas answered honestly.

"If she was willing to forget Brooke, would you take another chance on her?"

Lucas shook his head. "Not now. Maybe in a few years, when we're both older and more mature."

She skipped class with Nathan...so why not Luke? "Come...walk with me, talk with me." Haley paused the conversation and led them to a little nook in the wall. They sat down on the cold stone bench. "And if Brooke decided she wanted to try and work things out?"

"Is that what she wants?"

Haley shrugged. "I haven't discussed this with her yet. You're kind of a taboo subject. I merely want to know where you're coming from."

The look he gave her clearly expressed that he didn't believe her, but decided to play along.

"If I could somehow make things up to her," Lucas told her. He paused for a few moments before adding, "I had to give me and Peyton a shot. She was what I always wanted."

"But..." Haley prodded.

"But when I got it...it wasn't what I wanted. At first it was everything I imagined it to be. It was intense, passionate, and we connected."

Haley was getting frustrated now. "But..."

"But she brings a lot of drama to a relationship. And I'm not sure that that's something I want to deal with," Lucas admitted. "I liked my relationship with Brooke. She never ceased to amaze me – or surprise me. She was fun, caring, and carefree."

Haley nodded, just listening as Lucas continued.

"Brooke let me in, but Peyton...I get no where. I like that Brooke let me in," Lucas said, staring off at nothing, but with a smile on his face.

"So where does this leave you?"

Lucas sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I want to be Brooke's friend, I do miss her. And eventually I'd like to give us another shot...but I think I need a break from dating."

"Understandable."

"So what brought about this conversation?" Lucas asked her.

"I feel like I don't know what's going on with you anymore," Haley told him, and it was true. "I watched you drool over Peyton, then date Brooke, cheat on her with Peyton, and I don't know what you did with Jakes ex..."

Lucas was silent for a few minutes. "I chose Brooke because I was – am attracted to her. I liked her, and she liked me back. But then Peyton came to me, and we had this connection. I admit I've had a crush on her for awhile now..."

"NOOO!" Haley exclaimed sarcastically.

"Anyways...but I don't like her like that now that I've gotten to know her. Maybe if she gets rid of some of the drama..."

"And Jakes ex?" Haley prompted.

"It was after the accident...Brooke hated me...Peyton didn't want to do that to Brooke...which if you ask me is kind of an excuse..." Luke rambled on.

"First, about the girl from the bar," Haley ordered quirking her eyebrows.

"Everything was not going well. I was at a bar...had a few drinks...she was there...I was very confused," he admitted. "I was loosing everything – you, Brooke, Peyton, basketball."

"Me?" Haley asked.

Luke nodded. "Yeah you. Things between us were strained. We didn't hang out, and we barely talked."

"Yeah, it didn't seem that you missed me," Haley told him. "You always seemed preoccupied with Peyton...and then Brooke...and then Peyton." Luke was about to interrupt her, but Haley refused to let him speak. "Yes I was spending time with Nathan, and tutoring him. But you also made it so I couldn't share that part of my life with you. And before I could tell you anything."

Lucas pulled Haley into a hug. "I missed you so much Haley. I admit...that I was wrong – since you always listened to me talk about Peyton, and I'm willing to make a conscious effort to change that, and listen to you about your relationship." He smiled his gorgeous smile at her.

Haley laughed. "Ok, ok. Now get back to the excuse!" Haley urged him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean we already did it to Brooke. It was done, but then I think she wanted to back out," Lucas said shaking his head. "And then when Brooke found out, it was an easy way out."

Haley thought about what he said. "You really think so?"

Lucas shrugged. "We were getting close. She didn't talk about her feelings much and when I told her about mine she became distant," he explained to her. "So she decided it was time to shut me out, or at least that's what I think."

"It does make sense," Haley agreed. "Besides don't get me wrong, I like Peyton and all, but I don't think she's capable of handling a relationship at this point in her life."

Lucas nodded. "I think we're better off just friends."

Haley glanced at her watch. "Oh, I gotta get going. It's almost sixth period." And Haley was back in school mode.

Lucas smiled at her. "I love you Hales."

Haley hugged him. "I love you too Luke, my bestest friend."

They broke apart and Haley started walking down the hall to her class.

"Hey Haley...I think I'm going to take your advice," Lucas told her, making Haley turn around.

"Good choice Luke, go find her!"

"Later Haley!" Luke said taking off down the hall, as Haley went to her own class.

END PART 4