The next morning Brooke, Haley and Peyton were eating breakfast. Brooke really didn't want Haley to find out that she had told Peyton what had happened because she wasn't sure how she would react. So she would hold off on telling her. All of a sudden Peyton stood up, put her plate in the sink and put on her coat.

"And where do you think you're going?" Brooke asked her.

"Oh- I…I have some stuff to take care of, I'll see you two lovebirds later." Brooke gave her a "I know what your going to do look," but she just winked at them and took off.

Peyton got in her car, and drove to the place she knew so well. When she got there, she got out of the car and took a deep breathe. This is it. She walked to his door and knocked. He opened the door, looking like he had just gotten out of bed.

"Peyton? What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you." She said as she walked in and sat on his messy bed.

"Why now? And about what?" He asked as he sat next to her.

"Who cares when and I think you know why."

"No, can't say I do."

"Luke, you know damn well that I came here to talk about Haley."

"Oh." Was all he said.

"How could you?"

"How could I……..?"

"STOP PLAYING DUMB! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO HALEY? HUH? HOW COULD YOU TREAT HER LIKE DIRT BECAUSE OF WHO SHE CHOOSES TO DATE?"

"HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW I WAS GONNA LOSE THE GIRL I LOVED TO A DYKE? BETTER YET, HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE GIRL I LOVED WAS A DYKE."

Peyton gasped and slapped Lucas across the face. He immediately raised his hand to his face and had a look of shock.

"LUCAS, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST DICK IN THE PLANET! DID YOU HEAR YOURSELF? YOU JUST CALLED MY BEST FRIEND AND YOUR BEST FRIEND A DYKE. HOW COULD YOU?"

Suddenly, Lucas realized how terrible what he had just said, sounded.

"God Peyton, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean that. It's just…well, you know, I love Brooke. And it's hard enough losing her to another guy, let alone Haley. I shouldn't have blown up at her. The heart wants what it wants, right? And I can't be selfish and keep being like, well, a jerk.

Peyton just nodded.

"I'm gonna go over and apologize right now. I need to talk to her. I've gotta tell her that I love her and I'll be there for her 100."

Peyton smiled as he ran out the door. She figured she'd go home for a while and let them work it out.

Meanwhile at Brooke's house:

Brooke and Haley were sitting on the couch watching tv. Haley was curled up in a ball with her head on Brooke's chest. Brooke had her arms around Haley. Haley hadn't really been herself with everything that's been going on, and Brooke was beginning to get worried. Just as Brooke was about to say something, there was a loud knock at the door. Haley jumped up and screamed, fearing who that might be.

"Don't get it Tigger, please?"

"I need to, baby." She walked over and gave Haley a kiss.

She walked over and opened the door, not necessarily relieved to find Lucas, but relieved to find it wasn't Haley's father. They both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hi."

"Hey Brooke. Is Haley here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Look, I know you must've heard what happened and I'm sorry, but I really need to talk to Haley, please?"

Brooke looked over her shoulder to silently ask Haley for permission, and she reluctantly nodded. She let him in and he walked over.

"Hey, I'm gonna go take a shower."

"Bye Brooke." Haley said.

As soon as she was out of sight, Haley started to speak.

"Lucas, what do you want?"

"Haley, I want you to listen to me and listen to me good." He sat down next to her.

Haley nodded for him to continue.

"Hales, I'm so sorry for yelling at you yesterday. This is new and different, and I have to get used to it. But I am here for you whenever you need to vent, cry or even just talk. I love you and I don't want to lose you. If it's not completely obvious by now, I still have feelings for Brooke so it made it a little harder. They both laughed a little. I mean it Hales, I was a jerk, and you will never know how sorry I am, and I hope you forgive me."

Haley had tears pouring down her face by now.

"I forgive you Luke. I know this is hard, but you're my best friend and I love you too. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't Hales, not ever."

He went to bring her into a hug but his sudden arm movements caused her to flinch.

"What?"

"Oh- nothing, you just scared me."

"Haley, what's been going on with you lately? You're very jumpy and you flinch at every little thing, what's up, talk to me."

"Nothing." She wanted so badly to tell him, but she couldn't.

He placed his hands on hers, and when she winced in pain, he was forced to look down. There he saw a bruise all around her wrist. He gently ran his finger over it, as tears welled in his eyes. Then it hit him.

"Hales…has someone been hitting you? Is that what's been going on?"

She just nodded her head as the tears began to fall.

"Oh God Haley. Who? Who did this to you?"

"My dad. They're all over Luke." She lifted up her shirt to reveal the huge bruise covering her stomach and the many others on her back. "But Luke, he can't find out you know. Or he'll do it again." He placed a hand on her back.

"Hales, we have to call the police. You don't deserve this, no one does. That's all he's done thought right, hit you?"

All she could do was shake her head.

"You mean?"

She nodded.

"Hales…he raped you?"

"Yeah, and Lucas, it hurts so bad, all of it. I don't know what to do."

He took her in his arms as the sobs racked her body. She was crying so hard she was shaking.

"Shhh….I hate when you cry. We're gonna lock him up Hales." Neither one of them were aware that Brooke had come down. She walked over and sat next to Haley. She put a comforting hand on her back. As soon as Haley felt Brooke's familiar touch, she shifted into her arms as her tears soaked Brooke's shirt. Brooke and Lucas shared a sad smile before Haley spoke.

"I hate this Brooke. Make it stop."

"I'll try baby, Ill try."

Hey guys! Well I'm going away for two weeks on Saturday. So I have a bunch of last minute things to do. I'll update if I can, and if not, I will as soon as I get back! Review, Review, Review!