"Hey Tutor Girl, guess what I heard," Brooke said with a huge smile on her face.
Haley turned slightly after rolling her eyes. "Hey Tigger." Haley said before smiling at the look on Brooke's face. "What did you hear?" She asked glancing momentarily at Peyton before looking back at Brooke.
"Well, I heard that you and Lucas broke up and now your with…" She was cut off by a guy walking up behind Haley, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek.
"Morning." He said to all three girls standing before him.
Brooke yelped silently so that only Peyton heard. "So I guess that's a yes then," she said simply, beaming. "So does that mean that Lucas is available?" She said more asking for permission to go after Lucas then an answer to her question.
Haley turned and smiled at Nathan before kissing him softly on the lips. "Morning." She turned and looked at Brooke. "Yes, Tigger, he's free to date anyone he chooses." She looked over at Peyton, but only briefly.
"Are you all talking about me?" Nathan turned, letting go of Haley slightly, knowing the guy to which the voice belonged.
"Hey Hales…Nathan," Lucas said smiling.
Brooke walked over beside Lucas. "As a matter of fact…we were." she said linking her arm with his.
"And do I get to know what exactly you were saying about me?" Lucas asked looking down at Brooke.
Brooke looked around at the group then back up at Lucas, getting lost for a moment in his beautiful blue eyes. "If you walk me to class…maybe I'll tell you." She said with a sly smile.
Lucas laughed. "Deal," He said simply.
The two said 'Bye' to the others then walked off down the hall. Peyton watched the pair walk away then sighed. She turned back to face Nathan and Haley. "Well you two. All I've got to say is…It's about damn time." She said laughing.
Haley hit Peyton lightly on the arm. "Thanks Peyton." She said before shutting her locker and turning to a laughing Nathan. "Walk me to class?"
"Yeah, let's go." Nathan put his arm around Haley's waist. "See ya, Peyton."
Peyton waved slightly as she watched them leave. As they turned the corner, she looked in the other direction where Brooke and Lucas had walked in only minutes earlier. Peyton stood in the middle of the hall starting to feel completely alone when someone walked up behind her.
"Hey Peyton, I have a huge favor I need to ask you." Jake said as Peyton turned and smiled.
"Hey Jake. As long as you can ask on the way to class." she said as she started walking towards her first class.
Jake quickly caught up and then steadied his pace so that he was walking beside Peyton. "Okay, so here's the thing. I can watch Jenny tonight…I mean, I'll be home but I really need to study for this big exam that's tomorrow…"
"And you were wondering if I would come over and watch Jenny for you while you study." She finished for him.
Jake smiled at Peyton as they stopped in front of her class. "Yeah. It would be a huge help." He said with pleading eyes.
Peyton smiled. "Of course I will…It's not like I have anything better to do…plus I love hanging out with you two." she added at the fake pained look on his face.
"Thanks, your great." Jake quickly hugged Peyton as the bell rang. "I better go. I'm gonna be late as it is." Jake ran down the hall towards his own class as Peyton shook her head and smiled then enter English class.
As lunch began, Haley walked out into the courtyard, hoping to sit with Nathan, only to find him already sitting with Lucas. She pondered going over anyways, but noticed that they looked deep in conversation…and no one was yelling.
Lucas had been one of the first people in the courtyard for lunch. He was sitting at a round table by himself when Nathan walked over and sat opposite him.
"Look man, I just wanted to make sure you were okay with the whole…me dating your ex thing."
Lucas looked over at Nathan with a serious face. "Do you really car?" He asked, but before Nathan could say anything, his face broke into a smile. "Listen, I may not like you very much…well not at all really, but Haley obviously sees something in you. I trust her judgment. She's my best friend and as long as she's happy…I'm happy. But if you ever hurt her…" He was cut off.
"I'm a dead man…yeah, Haley already informed me." Nathan smiled. "I'm not gonna hurt her. That is the last thing I want to do." He said completely serious.
"Okay." Lucas said the held out his fist to Nathan.
Haley smiled as she watched the two most important guys in her life right now, seem to come to a truce. She turned and saw Peyton sitting by herself, watching Brooke walk over to Lucas. Haley walked up to Peyton and smiled slightly. "Can I sit?"
Peyton looked up at Haley. "Yeah." She watched as Haley sat down and kept looking at her. "What?" Peyton asked with a smile on her face.
"So, can I ask you a question?" Haley said as she opened her can of soda.
"I refuse to tell you or give you details of what Nathan's like in bed." Peyton said then laughed.
Haley threw a piece of crumpled up paper at Peyton. "That is so not what I was gonna ask." She said laughing with Peyton. "No but seriously thought…" Haley looked over at Lucas and Brooke. "How do you feel about Brooke and Lucas?"
Peyton followed Haley's eyes and looked over at the two for a minute before turning and smiling at Jake. She looked back at Haley and said, "Honestly?" Haley nodded her head. "I'm okay with it."
Haley looked into Peyton's eyes. "You sure?"
Peyton looked at Haley and smiled. "Positive. Plus, how would that look with each of us dating each other's ex." Peyton laughed, as did Haley.
"Good point."
Peyton was about to tell Haley how much she was starting to like Jake as she looked over at him again, then decided against it.
As lunch was ending, the two walked over and joined Nathan, Lucas, and Brooke. As Peyton walked up, Brooke looked over at Lucas. "I'll talk to you later, k." she said and when he nodded, she stood up and walked over to Peyton, linking arms with her. "Hey Best Friend, you wanna walk and talk?" Brooke asked looking at Peyton.
Peyton nodded then looked over at everyone else. "See you later."
"Bye Broody, Nathan, Tutor Girl." She said then started walking away with Peyton.
"Bye Cheery, Peyton."
"Later Tigger." Haley said looking over at Lucas as Nathan just waved as the duo left. "So Luke, what's going on with you and Brooke?" Haley asked as the three of them got up to leave, Nathan taking Haley's hand into his own.
Lucas sighed. "I don't know," was all he said before walking off to his afternoon classes.
Haley shook her head laughing slightly before turning her head to look at Nathan, who had been watching her. "What?" She asked, smiling.
Nathan smiled back then pulled her close for a kiss before they broke apart. "Nothing. So I'll see you after practice in the library, right?" he asked and she nodded before walking back.
Brooke and Peyton were walking to their next class arm in arm laughing. Brooke looked over at Peyton as she said, "You know I love you, P. Sawyer."
"Yeah…what's this about Brooke?" Peyton asked a little confused.
"Well, you also know that I would never want to hurt you, which is why I have to ask…"
"Yes, I'm fine with you and Lucas…Promise!" She added because Brooke had got a worried look on her face.
"Good" Brooke started to walk into class when she was stopped by Peyton.
"Hey, B. Davis." Brooke turned to look at Peyton.
"Yeah?"
"I love you too," was all she said. Brooke laughed and shook her head before taking Peyton's hand and pulling her into the class.
Haley was on her way to the library after school but half way there, she decided to go the to gym instead. She turned and within five minutes time, she was pushing the door to the gym open. She smiled at Nathan and Lucas as she walked over to the bleachers and sat behind Peyton and the other cheerleaders. Brooke and Peyton walked over and sat down on each side of Haley.
"Tutor Girl! What are you doing here?" Brooke asked a little surprised to see Haley there.
Haley laughed as she looked over at Brooke. "Tigger! I just thought I would come and watch the guys play a little before Nathan and I have to go to the library."
"Okay." Brooke said then followed the other two's gaze as she watched the team's practice. Brooke then turned sharply and looked at the two girls sitting beside her with a huge smile on her face. "Oh my god, this is too perfect."
Peyton looked at Brooke with a confused look on her face. "What?" She asked nervously.
"Well, I was just thinking…" Brooke started.
"Which is never a good sign." Haley smiled at Brooke.
"Oh shut up. No really," she looked at Peyton. "we need someone, and wouldn't she be perfect?" Brooke said, still being vague, as Peyton's face lit up with a smile.
Haley glanced at Peyton then at Brooke. "One of you better tell me what's going on." Peyton smiled then let Brooke speak.
"Okay, so here's the thing, we have a spot open on the squad and you're perfect to fill it."
Haley's eyes widened. "No, Brooke, I am clumsy as hell. There is no way." She stood up to walk away but Brooke stopped her.
"Peyton and I could help you with the cheer stuff. Plus, you would get to spend more time with Nathan." Brooke said knowing that would get her attention.
Haley looked at Brooke then over at Nathan. Practice was now over and he was walking towards her.
"hey, what are you doing here?" Nathan asked before leaning down to kiss Haley.
Haley kissed back then smiled up at Nathan. "Oh, I just thought I would come by and watch practice." She said quietly.
Nathan smiled. "I'm glad you did. Let me go take a shower real quick then we can head to the library."
"OK" Haley said as she watched him run to the locker room. She took a deep breath then turned and looked at Brooke, who was still sitting there waiting for her answer. "I'll think about it" She said before walking away.
Brooke and Peyton were walking out to their cars after practice. "This is great. When Tutor Girl joins the squad…"
"If she joins." Peyton corrected.
"Yeah, whatever." Brooke said waving her hand. "but look at it. Nathan's with Tutor Girl. I'm gonna be with Lucas. And it's only a matter of time before your with Jake…"
"Brooke!" Peyton sighed. "You know that IF Haley joins the squad, you're gonna have to start actually calling her Haley." Peyton pointed out as they stopped at Brooke's car.
"WHEN she joins, maybe I will." She smiled at Peyton then got in her car. "Call me when you get home tonight P. Sawyer." She said before starting her car and driving off.
Peyton laughed and waved to Brooke before getting in her own car and heading to Jake's head.
Nathan and Haley were sitting at a corner table in the library studying. Haley had been sitting there staring out the window thinking about Brooke's offer. Nathan looked up at Haley. "You okay, Hales?"
Haley turned quickly and smiled. "Yeah, why?" she asked, not realizing she had been zoned out for the past ten minutes.
"You've been staring out the window for a while." He smiled. "Tell me what your thinking."
Haley sighed. "Okay, so, while I was in the gym with Brooke and Peyton…Brooke kind of asked me to join the squad." She looked up at his face only to see him on the verge of laughter. He finally broke down and started laughing.
"Are you serious." he said in between breaths.
Haley just looked at him. "I knew it was stupid." She said then turned back to her studying. "But I at least didn't expect you to laugh."
Nathan stopped laughing and leaned on the table. "Hales, I was just joking." He reached over and lifted her head with his hands so that she was looking at him. Haley looked into his eyes feeling embarrassed. "I loved having you at practice today." Haley started to talk, but Nathan cut her off. "And I love spending time with you." Nathan smiled at Haley and she reluctantly did the same. "If this is something you want to do…then do it."
Haley nodded her head. "Okay…I think I will." She said then leaned over and kissed Nathan. Man I think I love you, she thought as they broke the kiss,
"Good, because I'm dying to see you in that uniform." He added with a big grin on his face. Haley playfully hit him on the arm. He took her hand when she hit him and pulled her in for another kiss.
Peyton pulled up to Jake's house around 5 that evening. Jake and Jenny were on the front porch but Jake was playing a song for Jenny on his guitar so he didn't notice her car pull into the driveway. Peyton sat there for a few minutes watching Jake with Jenny. He's such a great dad, she thought to herself. She quietly got out of her car and made her way to the front steps with a smile on her face. She stood there listening for a minute, waiting for him to finish his song.
"That was good. I've never really heard you play before." She walked over and sat down by Jenny. "Hey Jenny" she said smiling at the baby.
"Hey Peyton." Jake watched as the blonde sat down with his daughter. "Thanks again for doing this. I really appreciate it."
Peyton looked up at Jake and smiled. "No problem. I love hangin out with Jenny." She looked down at the little girl then back up at Jake. "And you too." Peyton said blushing slightly.
"Yeah" Jake said quietly. "Why don't we go inside." Peyton nodded, picked up Jenny, and followed Jake inside.
At 11:30, Jake had fallen asleep on the couch with a notebook in his hands. Peyton was sitting beside him watching T.V. She took the notebook and put it on the coffee table, then reached over and placed a pillow behind Jake's head and smiled. Soon after, she too fell asleep with Jenny in her arms.