Hazy Eyes

Old Habits Are Hard to Break

Nathan sat up in his room and smiled as he did his homework. Brooke was definitely something else, and he couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. He heard a light knock on his door, and then it opened slowly. Haley stood there smiling seductively at him, "When did you turn into a goody two-shoes?" She asked as she sprawled herself out on Nathan's bed.

"It's not that big of a deal," Nathan said; not looking up from his work.

Haley sighed thoughtfully, "Why don't we go to the beach?"

"I can't," he said simply.

"You never used to pass up those kinds of offers...Especially from me!" Haley whined.

Nathan closed his text book, "I'm going out with Brooke tonight."

"I thought that was just a bet," Haley said with jealousy dripping off her words.

Nathan took a deep breath, "It is," he lied, "So if I want to win this I have to make it believable."

Haley crawled onto Nathan's lap, "We can still have fun," she said in a hushed voice. She nibbled softly on his neck.

Nathan smirked and grasped Haley's hips, "You're right."

Brooke tapped her foot impatiently while she waited for Nathan at a local restaurant.

"Impatient much?" Peyton teased as she walked up to Brooke.

Brooke let out a small laugh, "Yeah, just a little. I'm waiting for Nathan."

Peyton nodded, "Why don't I buy you a drink while we wait?" Brooke and Peyton sat down at the bar. Peyton ordered them two drinks and positioned herself comfortably on the seat, "How late is he?"

"Half an hour," Brooke said as she looked at her watch. She drummed her fingers on the bar and then cleared her throat, "Did you and Nathan ever date?"

Peyton laughed to herself, "Once upon a time, but our relationship was just based on..." She stopped herself.

"Sex," Brooke said, "I may be a virgin, but that doesn't mean you can't say the word around me."

"Sorry," Peyton said, "I just don't want to cause tension between you and Nathan..."

Brooke smiled, "I trust him."

Peyton knew in the back of her head that Brooke was going to get hurt in the end, "Be careful," Peyton said simply.

Another hour had passed and Brooke yawned, "Maybe he forgot," she said sadly as she began to get up.

Peyton followed her outside of the restaurant, "I'm sorry Brooke..."

"You didn't do anything Peyton," Brooke said with a shrug, "I'm just hoping that the kiss the other day didn't scare him off or something..."

"Wait?" Peyton said, "Kiss?"

Brooke blushed, "Yeah, we kind of made out...I guess."

Peyton's jaw dropped, "Wow..."

"I know," Brooke said, "I couldn't believe it either, well I'll see you later," she said and then got into her car and drove off.

Peyton drove to Nathan's house and knocked on the front door. Haley answered the door wearing one of Nathan's shirts, "Peyton," she said with a big smile.

Peyton walked in the door and saw Nathan sitting at the kitchen table, "You totally blew off Brooke tonight!"

"I know," Nathan said with his head still down.

Haley skipped up to her and giggled, "We were busy...."

"Nate, that was really low," Peyton said to him.

Haley rolled her eyes, "Who cares?" She said, "It's not like the little nerd would care anyways...She's so desperate and pathetic!"

Peyton crossed her arms and turned to Haley, "She's not the one throwing herself at Nathan!" She exclaimed and then left the house.

"What the hell is her problem?" Haley scoffed when Peyton slammed the door.

Nathan pulled a sweatshirt over his head, "I got to go," he mumbled as he walked past Haley.

Peyton walked into Lucas's room and lay down beside him on his bed, "Nathan can't do this to Brooke..."

Lucas looked at her in confusion, "What are you talking about, Pey?"

"She's going to get hurt," she said softly.

Lucas shrugged, "She's nothing in our world Pey. We're the popular kids, and she's just a nerdy girl who happened to get the lucky pick...Besides, why do you care anyways?"

"Because I feel bad," Peyton said, "I just don't get why you and Nathan made this stupid bet..."

Lucas kissed the top of Peyton's head, "Everything's going to be fine..."

Brooke sat in her room and watched TV while she ate popcorn. She saw her cell phone ring and saw a text from Peyton:

I need to tell you something.

Brooke closed her phone and got up; she looked up and saw Nathan standing in her doorway. She smiled, "Hey," she said softly.

"I'm sorry about tonight," he said.

Brooke shrugged, "It's okay," she said brushing it off.

"I want to make it up to you," Nathan said as he started kissing Brooke's neck.

Brooke chuckled softly, "It's okay Nathan, really..."

Nathan grabbed Brooke's side and led her over towards the bed. Brooke sat down on the bed as Nathan kissed her hungrily. He got on top of her and began unbuttoning her shirt.

Brooke laughed nervously, "Nathan," she said warningly as she pushed his hand away from her blouse.

"What?" He asked, "Is something wrong?"

Brooke looked down and started to button herself up, "I don't want to do this..." She said looking away from him.

Nathan got up from on top of her and wiped his lips, "Okay."

"Are you mad?" Brooke asked.

Nathan shook his head, "No," he said, "I'll talk to you later..."

"You can stay," Brooke said as she got up.

Nathan turned around and looked at Brooke's pleading eyes, "I have to finish my homework, you know?"

"Oh," Brooke said biting her bottom lip, "I could help you if you want."

Nathan laughed, "It's alright...I'll talk to you later." He said and then left.

Brooke walked into school and walked straight towards her locker without looking up or anything. She got to her locker and quickly put her stuff in the locker. She looked over and saw Nathan and Haley flirting and touching each other.

Brooke walked into the library and sat by Peyton, "I have a question."

Peyton looked up, "Okay, what's up?"

"Last night," Brooke began, "Nathan wanted to have sex, but I stopped him and then he left, and this morning he's all over Haley..."

"That's just how guys are," Peyton explained.

Brooke sighed, "I wouldn't know..."

Peyton smiled weakly, "Well I do like you're outfit," she said with a comforting smile.

"Yeah?" Brooke said as she looked down at herself, "I've been dressing differently and doing my hair differently since that one night that you took me to the basketball game...Thanks."

"No problem," Peyton said.

Nathan and Lucas sat in their science class as the teacher showed them a slide show on cells, "How are things with Brooke?" Lucas whispered.

"Good," Nathan whispered back, "I'm going to win this bet..."

They both looked over at Haley and she winked at Nathan, "Not if Haley has anything to say about it," Lucas said with a laugh.

Brooke walked down the hall and felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around and saw Nathan standing there, "Hi."

"Look, about last night..." He began, "I'm sorry."

Brooke nodded, "It's okay..."

There was a silence and Nathan looked around the halls and rocked back and forth on his heels, "There's this party tonight...At Tim's."

"Okay," Brooke said with a flirty smile.

Nathan smirked, "Do you want to go with me?"

"Maybe," Brooke teased.

"Come on," Nathan pleaded, "I'll do anything!"

Brooke laughed, "Of course I'll go with you."

"Good," Nathan said as he wrapped his arm around Brooke, "I'll walk you to class."

Peyton and Haley walked down the hall, "Oh my god look at her!" Haley exclaimed as she watched Nathan and Brooke walk down the hall together, "She is turning into the biggest slut ever!"

"Afraid of a little competition, Hales?" Peyton joked.

Haley laughed sarcastically, "Nathan is my property, and every guy and girl in this school knows that."

"Chill," Peyton said as she rolled her eyes.

Haley scoffed, "If that bitch thinks that she is going to show up to Tim's party tonight then she must be mental!"

"She's probably going with Nathan."

Haley smiled mischievously to herself, "This will be fun..."

Read and Review