Chapter Fifteen: What Seemed So Simple Then

"Hey," said Brooke awkwardly. Haley flicked her hair over her shoulder and stared in surprise for a moment before smiling tentatively.

"Hey," she said.

"So… Congratulations about the Classic," said Brooke.

"That was weeks ago. And congrats to you too. Apparently we have something in common, after all," said Haley. Uncomfortably, she realized it was the first time she'd amicably recognized the other girl as her sister.

Brooke surprised herself just then, by holding back the comment that came to her-Yeah, I think you can spread your legs much farther, though-and being able to smile.

"Yeah, sure," laughed Brooke. Haley began to walk and Brooke followed after a moment's hesitation.

"So, I'm short one tonight. You interested?" asked Haley. Brooke raised an eyebrow, picturing herself in the short blue and white uniform, cheering alongside her sister in the gym.

"Seriously? You're not going to dump pig's blood on my head or something?" asked Brooke in surprise.

"Nope. Honest. In?" asked Haley. Brooke could tell she was trying as hard as she was able to be nice.

"In. Thanks, Haley," said Brooke. Haley smirked.

"No problem, Miss School Spirit," she said, as she walked off laughing.

Haley's gasp was surprised, yet knowing, when a hand snaked around her waist and pulled her into a classroom.

"You saw us coming, didn't you, you coward?" she asked, as Nathan lifted her onto a desk.

"Shh. Don't have much time," he said.

"But you just got to have me now?" teased Haley.

"Because you're completely indifferent?" asked Nathan. He covered her protesting lips with his.

Ten minutes later, the two walked out of the classroom again. Haley expected Nathan to continue on as she slumped against a wall of lockers, but he stopped and walked over to her. Towering over her small frame, he leaned on the one hand he rested on the wall.

"You okay?" he asked. He cupper her face in his free hand and stroked it with his thumb.

"Don't," she said. She pushed his hand away and frowned.

"Why not? It's been weeks since you were with Lucas," he protested.

"And years that I was," said Haley.

"I didn't think class differences mattered to you then. At least not anymore," said Nathan. He looked angry.

"That's not it," she said. He leaned down and kissed her. The entire hallway stopped and stared.

"Then what is it?" he asked, his face inches from hers.

"Somehow I can't remember," she whispered, pulling him into her again.

XxxxxX

Lucas Scott took the news philosophically when he heard, but Brooke Davis was furious.

"That bitch! That self centred, two faced slut! She was the girl I heard Nathan with! Here she is, being all sweet and sexing my best friend behind my back! And what about him? Hmm? He's my best friend! He practically lives at my house! I deserve better than this!" she ranted angrily.

"Babe…" he began.

"Shut up, Lucas. I'm not finished. And that's how we find out? By hearing from Theresa that they were making out in the frikkin hallway? What is that? You've known her for years!"

"Doesn't this mean we can come out?" asked Lucas apprehensively.

"No! I will not stoop to her level!" raged Brooke.

Lucas was inclined to comment that she already had, but he knew better.

"Think she'd know it was us if we TP'd her house?" wondered Brooke aloud. "Or egged her car?"

"Why would we do that?" he asked.

"You're right, it's too bold. We have to do something worse. Less traceable. Maybe we could stick her hand in warm water when her and Nate are having a sleepover? But does that even really work?" asked Brooke.

"I don't know. Brooke…"

"Yeah, maybe you're right. We could…"

"BROOKE!" yelled Lucas. Her brown eyes flickered to him in annoyance.

"What?"

"WE are not doing anything. Neither are you. This is insane. Haley's making an effort to be nicer to you, you're dating her ex, what's the problem?" he asked. She looked vulnerable for a moment. On impulse, he took her into his arms and held her fast against him.

"I can't believe he didn't tell me," she whispered.

"I'm sure he would have," soothed Lucas, whispering into her hair.

"I'm not," she answered back, feeling suddenly very alone.

XxxxxxX

Pride prevented Brooke from skipping out on the game. When she got to the gym a half hour before gametime to stretch with the rest of the cheerleaders, Haley looked at her apprehensively, but when Brooke simply smiled, Haley decided that she somehow didn't know.

Both girls were anxious when Whitey appeared, scowling in a mixture of worry and annoyance.

"What's up, coach?" asked Jake Jagielski, noting the old man's grim look.

"It's Lucas. He's not here, his mom's not here, or his daddy," he lamented.

"What?" gasped Brooke and Haley simultaneously. Brooke blushed a moment later, but Haley hadn't noticed her slip.

"He's gone, and we're about to lose our undefeated season," growled Brian Durham, looking anxious for his star player despite his cold words.

"What are we gonna do?" asked Tim.

"That boy a yours-he around somewhere?" asked Whitey, directing his question at Haley. A light flashed through his eyes.

"Nathan," she gasped, before sprinting out of the gym.

She found him outside, climbing out of his Mustang.

"Nathan," she said. She ran to him and took both of his hands. He leaned down to kiss her lightly. "Lucas isn't here. We're down a player. You in?"

"You serious?" he asked. He glanced above her head, to the gym.

"As a heart attack," she said, dragging him in by the hand, no idea how close her words were to the truth.

Within moments, Nathan was wearing the white and blue home jersey of the Raven's, and the game was in play.

Both Brooke and Haley couldn't help but feel proud at how easily he jelled with the team, how seamlessly they worked together. How many baskets Nathan scored (or was it made? Neither knew nor cared) by the end of the first half.

On impulse, Brooke used a school pay phone to check her messages. When she did, she was surprised to receive one from Karen Scott-but her surprise quickly turned to terror as she dropped the phone and screamed incomprehensively to Haley.

XxxxxxX

Nathan Lee was on fire. He knew it, they all knew it. He'd scored seventeen points already. It was a phenomenon. Nathan knew he'd never be "just a tutor" ever again.

The cheering of his sister, his best friend and his girlfriend had provided comfort to him the entire time, so he was disappointed when he got back and neither Brooke nor Haley was present among the cheerleaders. He glanced at Justine, who returned his look with a blank look of her own.

The buzzer went off. The visiting team scored and scored again, but Nathan and the Ravens quickly put them back in their place. Without the influence of the women he loved Nathan played less, but they managed to keep ahead until Whitey called a timeout.

"Nate!" whispered Justine Lee furiously, her normally animated face white.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Whitey called out to him.

"Brooke and Haley. They're at the hospital. Lucas Scott passed out," she said nervously. She gasped as Nathan dropped his towel and ran out into the parking lot.

XxxxxxX

Brooke dimly registered nurses coming and going, the machines beeping, the sharp smell of cleaning products, but her attention was focused on Lucas Scott, lying seemingly lifeless in the bed.

"You're together, aren't you," said Haley, staring at Lucas' hand, clasped in Brooke's.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Guess this makes us equal?" asked Haley, her voice low and unassuming.

"Fine. Friends?" asked Brooke, more forgiving in tragedy.

"Sister's?" asked Haley.

"Let's go for a mix," said Brooke. For a moment she allowed her eyes to drift off of Lucas and smile at Haley.

"Perfect," she said. She gently smoothed back Lucas' spiky blonde hair as Nathan ran into the room.

Haley didn't mind when he first went to Brooke and kissed the top of her head. Obviously he'd sensed her grief, realized the situation before Haley had. He made it up by going over to he other side of the bed and kissing his girlfriend.

"What happened? Teeny told me he was here," he explained. Haley spoke, in a lifeless tone.

"Something's wrong with his heart. HCM, it's called," she said sadly.

"It's the muscles in his heart. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It's genetic and occurs commonly in athletes," said Brooke dully.

"Does that mean he can't..?" asked Nathan.

"Not if he wants to live," said Haley.

"Not that there's any question that he won't," said Nathan, catching a glance of Brooke's ashen face.

"Of course not," said Haley, placing her hand on Brooke's.

Both gasped when the hand under theirs-Lucas'-stiffened and relaxed. Six eyes swiveled to his face as his eyes slowly opened.

"What happened?" he asked slowly.

"You passed out. Are you okay?" asked Haley anxiously.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice creaking. His eyes met Brooke's, and Haley took Nathan's hand and gently led him out of the room. Brooke slid onto the bed and sat as close to him as she dared.

"Feeling better?" she asked. A tear slipped from her eye.

"I am now," he said. She smiled.

"Here," she said. Brooke held a glass of water to his lips.

"Thanks."

"So something occurred to me when you were lying there," she said.

"What's that?" he asked. He looked scared for a moment, for the first time since he'd awoken.

"I love you," she whispered. He squeezed the hand clasped in his.

"I love you too," said Lucas. Tears streaming rapidly down her cheeks, she rested her head on his chest and allowed herself to sob her heart out.