Chapter Twenty-Eight: Code Red

Lucas smiled slightly as he ran past, stealing the ball from Jake, who was staring unashamedly at Peyton. Haley smiled back. Suspecting the Lucas was in a fragile state, Nathan hadn't objected to him hanging around them the entire day.

She gazed around the gym, covertly being truly demonic. Twisting the gold band around her finger, she evaluated every soul in the gym. From Bevin to Tim, no one escaped her radar.

"Teeny, Davis, help me out," she said to the group, after she'd disbanded practice. Davis looked surprised at Haley's requested, Justine Lee looked resentful at being called Teeny, as Nathan called her, but both compiled.

Haley stood completely still until the gym completely emptied. She ignored Nathan when he called out to her, and suddenly he wondered if he'd left the toilet seat up. Lucas called out to her, but Haley didn't notice, even though she didn't need to speak to Lucas.

"Help us out, Princess," said Justine indignantly. Haley snapped out of her reverie.

"I need to talk to you guys," said Haley quickly. Both went over to her quickly.

"What's wrong?" asked Justine, who knew her better.

"Davis, I know I've been a bitch to you. And I'm sorry for that. But you seem fairly trustworthy," said Haley. Davis nodded slowly. "And you, Teeny, are my sister in law. I have to trust you."

"Don't get on Haley James… Lee's… bad side. She can and will make anyone's life a living hell," advised Justine, turning to Davis.

"And that's exactly what I plan on doing," said Haley.

"Who's?" asked Davis in surprise.

"Just trust me. I need you guys to spread out. Tomorrow at precisely 5:15 I need you to be with the biggest group possible in front of the bedroom. Schedule a "group hang" or whatever it is you kids do. Influential people. That matter. Anyway, be turned to this blog and wait," said Haley, handing them each a piece of paper. Justine recognized the address and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Why are you doing this? To hurt Peyton?" prodded Justine.

"Yes, of course," said Haley distractedly. She paused. "To hurt them both."

"I don't get it," said Davis.

"Oh, you will," said Haley ominously, running away to find Lucas.

XxxxxxX

"This is a stupid plan. It's never going to work," said Haley anxiously, kneeling on the bed, her cheerleading skirt spread around her.

"It'll be fine. It'll be great. It's evil and underhand, but it's brilliant," said Brooke soothingly.

"Just keep your back to the camera," said Haley nervously.

"I will. And you'll look after Jackie?" asked Brooke.

"Of course," she replied.

"Maybe you could use the practice?" asked Brooke, subtly hinting. Haley scowled at her, but her face changed immediately when Nathan walked in.

Brooke as miffed that he'd come with knocking before she remembered that it was Nathan's room as much as it was Haley's.

"Damn, Hales," said Nathan, grinning as he caught sight of her uniform. She smiled flirtatiously at him.

"Well, I know you have a thing for cheerleaders," said Nathan.

"Yes, Nathan, she knows. How about you two discuss it some other time?" asked Brooke in annoyance.

"Yeah. Sorry. You wearing that?" asked Haley, evaluating the outfit Brooke had put on, which was simple yet pretty, revealing and not trashy.

"Yep. Nate, I'm going out for a while. Haley's already committed you to watching after Jackie," said Brooke.

"Poor us. Have fun," said Nathan unsuspiciously.

XxxxxxX

Brooke nervously drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, glad of the flirting experience she'd gained in New York in the short gap between leaving Tree Hill and the realization that she was pregnant.

"Damn you, Lucas Scott," she said to herself, as he again popped into her head. "Why didn't you stay where you belonged?"

She should have known. Hadn't their first kiss been a betrayal on his part? Shouldn't that have been a clue? Had he ever truly meant it when he'd told her he loved her? Did he ever tell his new girlfriend the same things? Did Davis, that inferior blonde thing (Brooke knew she was a brunette, but couldn't make herself think of her as that) hear the same words from his lips, see the same look in his pretty eyes? It didn't seem possible, somehow.

Brooke paused for a second before pushing open the door. Haley had warned her that Peyton listened to her music loudly and wouldn't hear a knock. She ran upstairs.

"Hey, Peyton?" said Brooke softly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Oh, hey Brooke. Is that mine?" Peyton walked over and took the neatly folded uniform from Brooke. It was the only excuse that the two girls had been able to concoct. Haley had stolen Peyton's uniform at practice the previous day and left the blonde to go home with her own just so Brooke could have a reason to go over.

"Yeah. Can I hang out? Haley's driving me crazy," said Brooke, walking in and sitting down on the edge of the bed, careful to keep her face far from the camera.

"Haley James will do that to you," said Peyton.

"Haley James-Lee. She and Nathan are fighting and the place is too damn small for a fighting couple and a houseguest," whined Brooke.

"They're fighting?" asked Peyton carefully.

"Viscously. So much for young love."

Brooke watched with interest as Peyton smiled, almost as if she were about to laugh. Peyton Sawyer seemed a girl like any other. Was it truly possible that underneath her blonde curls was a mind capable of ruining anyone's life?

"And Nathan thinks I'm in love with him. Men," said Brooke despairingly, hoping Peyton would take the hint. Peyton sat down beside her.

"I know what you mean," agreed Peyton. Brooke carefully moved her face in the opposite direction of the webcam, and glanced at the clock. 5:15. Computers all over the town could be turning to that very webcam.

"Men always think they have the power to change, you know?" said Brooke, forcing her voice to be low and flirtatious. Gathering her courage, she leaned forward, letting Peyton's lips travel the last few inches.

Making herself believe it was Lucas, Brooke sunk into the kiss. Aware that everyone was watching, she moved closer to Peyton and stuck her hand underneath the back of her shirt. This was easy. The smell of Peyton's breath made her not so curious as to why.

A beeping from the computer made them break apart. Peyton's eyes grew wide with panic when she realized what happened.

"Damnit, that thing was on. You should go," she said hurriedly, switching suddenly from sexually charged lesbian to elite socialite. Brooke grabbed her bag and ran.

XxxxxxX

Haley smiled with satisfaction as all phones in the house-hers, his, theirs-began to ring nonstop. Everyone had seen. Everyone had cared.

When Nathan realized he'd been played he looked slightly sad, but quickly repaired his face. Haley was inclined to believe that he'd learnt his lesson.