The Den was relatively empty after the usual day's busy lunch rush. The regulars had come, saw and conquered, devouring the usual soups, sandwiches and salads before hurrying off to work to finish the day. One of the waitresses had gone home early sick with flu like symptoms and until the hour or so before the dinner crowd would come filing in, it was just Deb and Haley left to hold down the fort. Nathan was due in for the later shift and Brooke had been in and out all day. Except for the old man quietly sipping coffee at a table across the way, Haley found herself all alone. Sometimes that was a good thing. She loved peace and quiet and the opportunities to just relax and try and clear her head. Then there were times when the silence was all too much. Ever since she had kicked Lucas out and her brother had left, Haley found herself alone more often than not. That was why she hadn't minded when Nathan had to increase the workload at Deb's Den. Keeping busy was a welcome and necessary distraction.

As she stood absently wiping down the already clean counter top, her mind couldn't help but wander. No matter what, it seemed the Den had always been home. It was such an important factor in her life. She could close her eyes and see her and Nathan as kids running around the place squirting each other with water guns. Haley couldn't help but smile. It seemed ever great memory from her past somehow involved him one way or another. They had always been there for each other and he had always been her best friend. There was a time, before the older brothers, before the car racing, before the Daytonas and everything else when it had just been the two of them. It was a happy time. It was a simple time.

Of course that was before Lucas. Before the drama and the complications. Haley frowned. She wished she could just forget. But she couldn't. It wasn't that simple. He had been a huge part of her life. Lucas was, at least for a little while longer, her husband. And no matter what, a piece of her would always love him as well. And it hadn't been all bad. There had been good times. There had been happy times. There had been moments when she felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.

"Haley, can I get another round?"

Haley looked up. Mr. Jenkins was in front of her dangling his empty mug.

"Huh?"

"Coffee, sweetheart."

"Oh", she shook her head, slowly coming back to reality's present. "Sorry about that. Here you go."

He smiled and nodded appreciatively as Haley returned to earth. There was no time to think about Lucas or Nathan. It was pointless and there was work to be done. Grabbing the dish bucket, she headed in the direction of the last two tables that needed bussing. She whistled a pleasant tune, not paying much attention when the main doors swung open. She bumped smack dab into the person entering, sending the large plastic crate to the floor.

"Sorry", he mumbled.

Haley looked at him. She'd recognize that voice anywhere. So much for not thinking about him.

"No. Um, no, it was my fault", she said nervously.

Lucas bent down.

"Let me help you."

"I've got it. Really. It's no big deal."

He looked at the woman he could still call his wife. She seemed nervous and agitated and not very happy to see him. But what could he expect?

"So", he shrugged. "Um, how've you been?"

"Good", she ran her fingers through her hair.

They both nodded in the most uncomfortable and awkward silence of their young lives.

"Well, I've got to go", he finally said. "Don't worry. I mean, I'm not here to work or anything. I just need to see Deb for a few minutes. Is she in the back?"

"Yeah", Haley nodded. "She, um…she's in her office."

"Okay", he headed back. "I guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you."

She closed her eyes and cursed to herself as he walked away. She hated seeing him but Tree Hill was only so big so as long as they both stayed in town, the opportunity to run into each other would always be there. But more than that, she hated how it was when they saw each other. At one time they had been good friends. At another time, they had been so much more. Now awkwardness, pain, and underlying anger seemed to be the only thing left.

"Hello, Friend!"

The door opened and in sauntered Brooke, looking like a million bucks even if she was only wearing jeans and a tee shirt.

"Hey, Brooke", Haley tried to smile. "How's it going?"

"It is going wonderfully", the brunette practically twirled around.

"Somebody is in a good mood."

"And it's obviously not you. What's up?" Brooke walked over and began helping her friend clear off the table.

"I'm okay. I guess I'm just tired."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Don't mind me. Now back to you. What has you dancing around the Den?"

"Sorry about the extended lunch but Cooper FedEx'd some tapes of Nathan's old races so we sat around going over them."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And Haley, it is so cool. Do you ever watch?"

Haley smiled at Brooke's newfound enthusiasm. She herself had never really caught on to the whole racing thing.

"Nah. Not really. I never really understood what's going on. I guess I never got into it. Seemed kind of boring to watch on TV and all."

"That's exactly what I thought but once Nathan explained it to me, it's kind of cool. And some of the tapes were taken with cameras inside the car so you get to see the view from the racer's perspective. Totally has that Fast and the Furious kind of feel to it, minus Paul Walker and Vin Diesel although Coop and Nate aren't too bad on the eyes."

"Yeah", Haley chuckled.

"Anyway, it's cool. But you know what really had me hooked? You have to ride with them. I'm telling you, it is so fun! Nathan took me on a couple of laps and I had a blast!"

"Sounds fun", Haley shrugged. "You're really enjoying yourself. Next thing we know, you'll be out there in your own car."

"Sorry but they don't allow chauffer drawn carriages out on the race track."

Both girls looked up. Lucas had returned.

"But they do allow assholes and speaking of which, I guess that means you'll be back on Nate's road crew", Brooke shot back.

Lucas shrugged and opened a bottle of water.

"Relax. It was just a joke."

"Whatever", she rolled her eyes. "I don't think you're very funny."

"That's too bad since I am gonna be Nathan's crew chief in Darlington."

"You are?" Brooke raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. He's my brother and he asked me too. And I hear you've been helping him out with stuff so it looks like we're gonna be working together."

Brooke knew Lucas was good at what he did and she knew it meant a whole lot to Nathan but the idea of being so close to the brooding blonde made her slightly nauseous.

"Well then", Brooke gave a fake smile. "Lucky me."

"Just be prepared to work hard", he ignored her sarcasm. "I mean it. It can be fun racing isn't a big game. It can be dangerous and people can be hurt. The crew chief's team has to be all over everything to make sure we get a win and Nate makes it out all in one piece."

"I know that."

"Good. Glad to hear it. Because the people on my crew kick ass and get the job done."

"Your crew?" Brooke frowned. "What? Wait…"

"Don't worry, kid. I'll have a nice little 'to do' list for you later, especially on race day so don't be late. Oh…and no complaining."

Brooke felt her cheeks grow hot. With Lucas as the actual crew chief, that meant anyone else on Nathan's street team technically worked under him. The crew chief would be in charge of everything, as Nathan had his own physical, emotional and mental preparing to do and couldn't be bothered with all the minor and technical details.

"Fine", she sucked it up through pursed lips. "I'll be just fine, thank you very much. Nathan and Cooper and Daytona and Mr. Green and everybody have showed me a lot. I know what I'm doing."

Lucas grinned.

"Good. Try not to break a nail."

With that, he pulled down his baseball cap and nodded at her as well as his estranged wife.

"Lucas", Haley whispered, acknowledging his good bye.

Brooke waited until he left and had disappeared down the street.

"What a jerk!" she stamped her foot for emphasis. "Can you believe the nerve of that guy? Oh he just irks me! And now he's the damn crew chief so that means I get to take orders from him now. Oh joy!"

"Sounds like loads of fun", Haley rolled her eyes.

"It's cool. I won't be alone. I'll have Nathan and Daytona and Cooper and everybody else. And I'll have you."

"Uh yeah, in spirit maybe", Haley laughed.

"You're not coming?" Brooke pouted."

Haley shrugged.

"I told you it's not my thing."

"But it'll be fun. I'll explain stuff so you'll be able to understand and it won't be boring watching it live."

"Sorry, Brooke."

"But it would mean a lot to Nathan. Really Haley. And with Deb not coming, all the hometown family and friend support is just what he needs."

"Nathan has you and Cooper. And Daytona. He doesn't need me", she added softly.

"I know he'd be happy that you were there."

"Brooke, I don't know…"

"It'll be fun. It'll be a kick ass road trip."

"Brooke…"

"We can sing along to bad 80's songs at the top of our lungs and trade sex stories and flash our boobs to lonely old truckers. What do you say?"

Haley couldn't help but smile.

"Well, when you put it like that…"

"Awesome!" Brooke jumped up and down. "This is going to be great! South Carolina, here we come!"

"Hold your horses before you break out with the cartwheel", Haley smiled. "I did not say yes."

"Yet."

"I'll think about it."

"That's better than a 'no'."

"True but it depends on how I feel and what's going on and what I'm doing."

"Okay."

"And then there's Lucas", she frowned.

Brooke sighed.

"Just keep your distance. Besides, this isn't about him."

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I know I am. Unfortunately, I'm the one that has to deal with his ass the most but if it gets to be too much for you, I totally have your back. Strength in numbers."

Haley folded her arms.

"The old buddy system, huh?"

"You got it!"

"Okay", Haley finally conceded. "I don't know how I let you talk me into this and I'm sure I'll live to regret it but fine!"

"You're in?"

"I'm in!"

"Yay!" Brooke squealed as she jumped up and down. "You will not regret this! We're gonna make like Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey and have the time of our lives, baby! Trust me."

Haley couldn't believe what she had just agreed to.

"I don't know about all that but I am trusting you, Brooke. What's that stupid saying? Hoes before bros or something like that?"

Brooke stopped dead in her tracks and her smile faded. "Hoes before bros". She'd heard that one before. Just a few simple words, a stupid popular slang had taken her back to another time and place.

"Um…"

"Brooke? You okay?"

She looked at Haley.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Yeah, I'm fine", she managed to smile.

"Good", Haley pulled out two glasses and filled them with soda pop from the fountain before sliding one over to Brooke and raising her own. "Here's to friendship and racing cars, avoiding soon to be ex husbands, kick ass road trips and above all having fun."

Brooke took a deep breath. Haley had said it all. Giving her a sly but knowing smile, they clinked their glasses in a toast.

"Let the adventure begin."