Chapter Title is by the All-American Rejects

Chapter Eight: Stab My Back

Lucas sat down on one of the lunch tables waiting for the rest of his friends to come. Ever since the news about Brooke and Haley came out, he hadn't seen much of his best friend or girlfriend and while he knew that they were trying to deal with everything, he kind of missed them.

Suddenly Nathan and Tim walked over with Jake behind them. Lucas nodded to the three guys. "Where are the girls?"

"Brooke and Peyton are coming," Nathan sat down. "And Haley was right behind us." He turned around and smiled to himself when he saw Haley walk down towards the table. "There she is."

"Hey Hales," Lucas greeted her. He watched her sit down next to Nathan and in front of him. Though he didn't like to admit it, his best friend and brother made a great couple and he never understood why they had broken up.

Haley grinned at him. "Hey Luke, I haven't seen you around lately."

"That's because you've been AWOL," Lucas replied jokingly. His eyes caught the sight of his girlfriend before glancing back at Haley. "And there's your twin right now."

Haley had to smile at his words. People were already referring to them as twins, even sisters. While Brooke rolled her eyes at their usage of the word, Haley couldn't help but grin. A twin was something she never thought she would have.

"Hey Broody," Brooke greeted as she and Peyton reached the table. Her gaze swept over the table before they rested on Haley. "Tutor girl! Long time no see."

"Tigger," Haley raised an eyebrow. She could see that Brooke was in a good mood.

Peyton sat next to Haley as Brooke took the empty seat next to Lucas, "Hey Haley, so have you decided on anything yet?" She caught the confused look on Haley's face. "Brooke told me."

"Oh," Haley shook her head, before glancing over at Brooke and Lucas who were having their own conversation. "As of now, I'm just gonna stay at my house. I mean Tay's there now and who knows when she'll come back again."

"Yeah that makes sense," Peyton nodded. She watched Nathan lean towards them obviously listening to their conversation. "I just want you to know that you're welcomed at my house as much as Brooke is."

Haley gave her a smile, "Thanks Peyton."

"And Haley and I've talked about it too," Nathan jumped in. "I told her she can stay with me."

Brooke stopped talking and turned to the conversation going on in front of her. "Boy Toy and Tutor Girl living together after a breakup? Interesting."

Haley laughed, "It's not like that Brooke."

"Besides, just because we're not dating doesn't mean we're not friends," Nathan told the table. He glanced around catching Tim's obvious grin and Luke's amused one. "I mean it."

"Why did you two break up anyway?" Peyton asked, clearly interested. "I mean, neither of you ever gave us a straight answer, and no offense but you guys are clearly not over each other."

Haley and Nathan's jaws dropped at her brash statement. Neither knew what to say to that, neither knew how to respond to that. Brooke caught their expressions and couldn't help but laugh at her sister and her sister's ex-boyfriend. "Too funny P. Sawyer."

Jake grinned and finally spoke up. "I get it, maybe they're secretly dating and don't want anyone to know?"

"Or maybe Haley found out about Nathan's Little Mermaid obsession?" Peyton shrugged. "That's why I broke up with him."

Nathan blushed as Haley couldn't help but giggle at Peyton's guess. "We just decided to take a break, that's all."

"Uh huh," Brooke decided it was her turn to speak up. "Yeah, that's not a very good reason."

"Brooke," Haley sighed, "Seriously. We're just taking a break right now, we've just got too many things going on to work on a relationship."

Brooke nodded, still not believing what they were saying. "Whatever you say Hales, I'm just saying that none of us believe anything you guys are saying."

Haley rolled her eyes. As far as she was concerned, they could all believe what they wanted, she and Nathan knew the truth and that was all that mattered. Nathan glanced down at her and she knew that he was thinking the same thing.

Brooke couldn't help but catch the loving looks exchanged by Nathan and Haley and she knew that she would get them back together by the end of the year. Suddenly she felt Lucas's hand searching for her own and had to smile. He had seemed a little out of it in the past couple weeks but she could feel him returning to her and she was glad she had him through all of this.

The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the seven teens stood up, each going to their respective classes. Brooke held on to Lucas' hand while linking arms with Peyton as the three teens went off to English class.

After realizing that their class was going to be in the library, Brooke quickly asked to go to the bathroom leaving Peyton and Lucas alone for the first time in days.

"Hey," Lucas broke the silence. They had been too close before to let anything stop them from becoming friends.

Peyton eyed him before relaxing. "Hi."

"Can we talk?" Lucas asked, noticing the uncomfortable tension between them.

Peyton raised an eyebrow, amused. "What do you think we're doing now?"

"I mean about us," Lucas clarified.

"Oh," Peyton glanced around and grabbed his arm, leading him to the back of the library so no one could see them. "Talk."

"I'm sorry," Lucas started, he scratched his neck in nervousness. "I'd never thought I would have to end anything with you, especially like that."

Peyton nodded understandingly. She recognized the position he had put himself in. "I know that, and that's why I'm glad we can be friends through all of this, especially for Brooke."

"Brooke," Lucas repeated. "She can't find out about us." He caught Peyton's eyes and found himself inching closer to her, unconsciously doing what he knew he shouldn't.

"No," Peyton shook her head softly as Lucas' lips came over hers, pushing her back against the wall. It seemed like nothing would ever end between the two of them. They sought out each other not knowing they had an audience.

Brooke cleared her throat quietly, hoping to get their attention, her eyes blazing in anger. She had never expected this of her best friend or boyfriend. "Guess I'm interrupting something."

Lucas and Peyton pulled away from each other and looked at Brooke who was clearly upset. "Brooke wait!"

"I thought you were my best friend Peyton," Brooke snapped. "I guess I was wrong." She saw Lucas moving to talk to her. "And don't even get me started on you Lucas."

She walked away, leaving the two cheating teenagers in her wake. The brunette quickly grabbed her stuff and walked out not caring that someone was calling after her, probably the teacher. She dumped her books in her locker and was in the parking lot in two minutes. She just wanted to go home.

Lucas and Peyton glanced at each other before Peyton took off running after Brooke.

"Brooke!"

Brooke turned around but when she saw that it was only Peyton, she felt no need to stop what she was doing and quickly reached her car.

Peyton rushed to the light blue bug. "We have to talk about this Brooke."

Brooke glared at her, "We have nothing to talk about." And with those words she got into her car and sped out of the parking lot leaving Peyton standing there wondering just exactly where she went wrong.

Hours later, Haley found herself standing in front of the Davis mansion, the one place she never thought she'd see herself at. When Lucas told her that Brooke had seen them kissing, Haley could only think of how her sister was doing. She had left the café as soon as her shift was over and since Brooke wasn't picking up her phone, Haley found herself worrying.

She rang the doorbell hesitantly hoping that her father wasn't around. The door opened and Haley found herself face to face with Gloria Davis.

"Is Brooke here?"

Gloria nodded. "She's in her room."

Haley took the stairs two at a time and reached Brooke's room within seconds. Her door was closed and Haley knocked softly before letting herself in. "Brooke?"

She received a muffled reply. "Go away."

"It's Haley."

Brooke looked up from underneath the covers. "Haley?" Her eyes were red and her cheeks tearstained from crying. "Can you just come back later? I don't really feel like talking."

Haley felt her heart catch as she took in her sister's appearance. It was heartbreaking to see her like this. Haley made her way over to the bed and climbed in, pulling her sister closer to her. "It's going to be okay Brooke, I promise."

Brooke clung to Haley as she started crying again. "How can it be okay when I've lost the only best friend I've ever known and the only boy I've ever loved?"

Haley closed her eyes as she heard the heart wrenching sobs of her sister and the only thing she could do was hold her tight and wish for everything to be okay for her. "I don't know Tigger, but you're going to get through this."

Brooke didn't say anything and the two sisters just lay there as one sought out comfort and the other did whatever she could to give it.