Chapter Twelve

"Looking For Teen Friendship"

"I think about what we could have been if you had stayed as I look into your eyes then turn my head away everything happened so fast I think of my stupidity as I think about our past why did you have to leave? Why did you make me make-believe? That what we had was real love I thought I couldn't get enough But then you announced the end Causing pain I cannot mend It's true I'm an imbecile I thought what we had was for real Don't you realize what we had Oh my, now I'm always mad Can't you hear my malicious tone As I sit here all alone." Haley sang while she sat in Lucas' bedroom.

"Since when do you listen to 'Punchline'?" Lucas asked staring at her.

"Chris played it a lot on the tour." She told him.

"Chris," Lucas said his name.

Haley rolled her eyes. "Stop it Luke!" she cried. "I'm sorry okay. God, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry?" she begged. "I just want to get my life back. I'm here now. I'm getting an apartment. I'm going to school for senior year. After school I'm going back on tour." She told him.

Lucas nodded. "If that's what you want," he told her. "I told you I would support you Haley. I promised you that. When do you start school?"

"Monday," she told him. It was Saturday.

"Are you nervous?"

Haley nodded. "Of course. I saw Nathan last night, but it's just going to be so weird. I mean, do I try to be friends with him? Do I leave him alone? Do I ignore him?"

Lucas shook his head. "I don't know, I feel the same way about Brooke right now."

"What happened between you two anyway? It seems to me like she's with Nathan now. He told me they weren't together, but it sure looked like it when I saw them at the beach the other night."

Lucas shook his head sadly. "I don't know." He said honestly. "She lives here, but we never see each other. When she got back from her summer in California I was dating someone else." He told her. "I thought Brooke didn't feel the same way about me, so I moved on."

"You're dating someone else?" Haley asked intrigued. "Who?"

"I was dating someone else," he corrected her. "We broke up a few days ago."

"Why?" Haley asked. "And who?"

"Her name was Aubrey. She moved here this summer. She broke up with me a few days ago because she thinks I still have feelings toward Brooke."

"Do you?" Haley asked.

Lucas shook his head no. "I miss being her friend. I thought I loved Aubrey but it was really fake. I think I'm better off alone for a while."

Haley nodded. "I am beginning to feel the same way." She agreed. "I guess it's back to you and me buddy."

Lucas smiled. "I'm really happy about that."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Brooke watched Karen pull the last bowl of soup from the counter. "I'm just about finished she promised."

Brooke had been waiting at the café for over an hour. Karen needed to talk to her about something, but had to finish cleaning up the café first.

Finally Karen sat down next to Brooke and faced her. "Brooke," she started to say. "I don't want you to get upset, but there is something I have to tell you, and you're not going to like it."

Brooke suddenly felt extremely nervous as she looked at Karen. "What is it Karen?"

"Lucas and I are going to be moving into Andy's new house." She started. "We're trying to start a new life together, and I don't think that it's going to work out having you live with us there."

Brooke looked at her with amazement. She fought back the tears forming in her eyes. "Okay," she nodded. "Have you told my parents?"

Karen shook her head no. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." She told her. "I'm willing to work something out with you, as long as I have your trust."

"Of course you do!" Brooke cried. All the emotions running through her body seemed to collide.

"If you agree to work for me part time after school every night, and you use the money your parents are giving you on rent, I'll help you get an apartment."

Brooke jumped up from her chair and wrapped her arms around Karen. "Are you serious?" she cried with happiness. "Wow," she laughed, "I feel like I'm going to pass out."

"Calm down," Karen smiled. "I'm serious about you working for me. I really need the help around here."

Brooke couldn't contain her smile. What could be better than having her own apartment?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"We should get going," Jake called to Peyton who was holding Jenny up to see a group of Monkey's. The three of them spent the day at the zoo.

Peyton turned around and put Jenny in her stroller. She followed Jake toward the car. Jake reached down and entwined his fingers in hers smiling. Peyton grinned as she pushed the stroller, she was so happy.

Jake fastened Jenny in the back seat of the car and opened the door to let Peyton in. "Thank you." She told him.

They drove to Jake's house and put Jenny down to sleep. "What do you want to do now?" he asked her looking at the clock. It was only 7:30.

Peyton shrugged. "Are you sure your parents don't mind us leaving Jenny here?"

Jake shook his head. "They know, they don't mind at all. They just want me to be back tomorrow."

Peyton smiled. "What do you say we get something to eat, and play some pool?"

Jake agreed. They drove to the bar just outside of Tree hill where Lucas and Brooke shared their first date.

"Do you still have the fake ID Brooke made us last year?" Peyton asked Jake as they sat down at a table.

Jake nodded and handed her the ID from his wallet. Peyton pulled out hers and set them on the table. They both looked up in amazement as the waitress approached them. "Haley?" Peyton asked surprised.

"Hi," Haley smiled. "Jake," she nodded. "I know, I know, it's not Karen's, but I thought that would be a little too familiar." She told her. "I'm just staying for the summer and I thought it would help pass time."

"That's cool," Peyton smiled awkwardly. She knew Haley didn't need the money. She had more money than Peyton ever touched in her lifetime. Being on tour and singing was a promising career. She knew Haley probably never had to work again. She reached down and grabbed the fake ID's off the table. "I probably don't need these?" Peyton asked showing them to Haley.

Haley laughed and looked at the horrible pictures on the ID's. "Wow," she joked. "What can I get you?"

"Two Corona's and two burgers?" Jake asked.

Haley smiled. "Don't tell anyone." She made them promise.

Peyton finished eating before Jake and stood up to start a game of pool. "Hurry up," she begged.

Jake laughed and followed her to the pool table. "You know how to play pool?" he asked a little bit surprised.

Peyton nodded, "Brooke said that every girl should know how to beat a boy in pool."

Jake smiled; he reached his arm around her and kissed her softly. "I'm so glad I met you," he whispered in her ear.

"I'm pretty glad I met you too," she whispered back. "I'm going to be even more glad when we get back to my house."

Jake's eyes lit up with a smile. "Even more glad?" he laughed. "Did that even make sense?"

"That's not the point," Peyton kissed him again. "You know what I mean."

Jake nodded. "I know what you mean."

Well, there it is. Chapter twelve. This one was a little longer. Don't worry, more Nathan/Brooke ahead. Just want to clear up some other friendships/relationships. I hope you enjoyed it. I look forward to your reviews!