Authors' Note: Sorry it took me so long to update, I have received a review telling me that some people do not like my story at all, if you do not want me to continue with my story then please review me and let me know. Thank you! Here's the next chapter!

Figuring Things Out

They walked through the park looking at anything but each other. The trees whispered to each other as the children ran past playing hide and seek. The setting sun glowed giving the small town the home like comforting feeling it always had and yet the two youths fidgeted with their fingers not saying anything.

They finally arrived at a quiet spot where they could talk in privacy. They were enclosed by the tall trees and the closing looked over the water.

"Lucas… I'm so sorry. I … I don't …. I couldn't…" Brooke looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Why?" Lucas whispered so quietly she barely heard his question.

Brooke looked up at him, her pained expression evident on her face,

"Because…..Because I've never met anyone like you. I've never met a guy who's interested in me for me and I guess I ran scared. I thought if I acted the way I did maybe the feelings would go away."

"What feelings?"

"When I look at you my heart does back flips and when you touch me I feel as if I'm going to die from that." Brooke hesitated. "I think I'm falling in love with you Lucas."

"This still doesn't change anything. Only you can make things better now. I don't know if I'm ready for us again, maybe sometime when I can trust you again. But just for the record, I think I'm falling for you too." Lucas took her hand, kissed it softly and walked away, out of her life – for now anyway. And Brooke dropped to the ground, erupting in tears for the hundredth time since she lost the love of her life.

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Nathan snaked his arms around Haley's waist as they sat there – him on the swing, her on his lap.

"Do you think they're going to be ok?" Haley asked him, biting on her lip.

"They'll be fine, although from what Lucas told me, not any time soon."

Haley jumped up.

"Oh God! Brooke is going to be heart broken! Why didn't you tell me this before?" Haley asked, hitting him on the arm.

"Well, for one I didn't think you'd care for Brooke as much you evidently do and second, Lucas told me just before you guys came along – it would still have been too late." Nathan replied, defending himself.

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry honey." She smiled apologetically. "And I'm really proud of you for making an effort with Lucas. You two make a cute pair." She winked back at him playfully.

"Oh that's it!" Nathan cried. He wrapped his arms around her, spun her around and began the tickle war.

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"Brooke hurry up! We have to meet the guys there in ten minutes!" Haley shouted from downstairs.

"Just a second!" Brooke screamed back, walking down the spiral staircase looking so stunning, even Haley's mouth nearly dropped open.

"What?" Brooke asked.

"You do realise that we're just meeting up with the guys and then going to Karen's?"

"And…?"

"You are seriously over dressed for this occasion."

"Oh please, you can never be overdressed for anything!" Brooke waved her hand dismissively. "Under-dressed maybe." She added, pointing towards Haley.

"Ha! Very funny, let's just go." Haley replied to Brooke's teasing remark. It was funny how after all these years of sniping and cruelness to each other, they had become best friends so soon.

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"Oh God! I think I should just go." Brooke quivered as she said this. They stood in front of Karen's Café in the pouring rain.

"Don't be stupid Brooke. He'll come around eventually and for now you just have to prove to him that you're here for the long run whether he likes it or not." Haley breathed out, grabbing Brooke's hand and leading her into the cosy café.

They entered the café and froze. No-one spoke a word; it was as if a spell had been cast on the small eatery. Brooke and Lucas were fidgeting with their fingers as their eyes flitted away from each others. Meanwhile, Haley let go of her tight grasp on Brooke's hand, her eyes trained on Nathan and the older blonde woman in front of him who had tears pouring down her face. Nathan just stood there, his throat dry and his eyes trying to force back tears. Karen rushed forward and pulled the woman into a tight hug, as Nathan fled the place, Haley following close behind.

"Nathan!" She screamed as the thunder roared behind her, the rain pouring down relentlessly. His heart skipped a beat when he heard her voice behind him but he continued running. He didn't feel like explaining anything right now. He just wanted to make it all go away. He felt trapped like when he was a kid. He didn't want to live that life again. But this time he had Haley – the one thing in his life that held the power to make his life brighter. As this thought overcame him, he slowed down to a stop, causing Haley to bump into his chest. But before she could retreat, he held her close, not wanting to let go – ever.

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As she rested her chin on his shoulder, she stroked his wet hair, soothing him. He finally broke his tight grasp on her, bringing them face to face with nothing but rain separating them.

"I'm scared Haley." He finally admitted, tears running down his face. Haley didn't need to know what had happened earlier on, nor did she need to know who the woman was, all she knew was that it was not easy for Nathan Scott to admit his fears to her – and she wanted to kiss him senseless for letting her be the one he opened up to. Instead, she held him tightly and whispered into his ear,

"It's alright. I'm here." Causing Nathan to shiver. It was at this moment that he knew his surprise for Haley was perfect – and that he'd made the right choice.

"Come on let's get inside before we freeze." Nathan said, trying to stop his lip from trembling.

So there they sat hours later, by the fireside eating Mac 'n' Cheese their faces glowing with the happiness of each other's company.

"So I guess you want to know who she was." Nathan half-asked hesitantly.

"You don't have to go into that right Nathan." Haley said, although her wide, brown eyes were eager with curiosity.

"But I want to talk. You know sometime, you just feel hollow and dead inside?" Haley nodded. "Well I used to feel like that twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Until you came along. You make me feel alive again. And when I talk to you, you understand and right now, I just don't want to feel numb, like I am." Nathan explained.

"Then I'm all ears." She responded, snuggling into his chest as they lay on the floor staring at ceiling, both waiting for words to form in Nathan's mouth.

Authors' Note 2: So Brucas has been 'figured out' so to speak. But don't worry; they'll be together before you know it – especially with me ;) (I CANNOT BEAR IT when couples are apart for too long!)

Spoilers: Find out who the mystery woman is.

Haley gets her surprise.

Please don't forget to review telling me a) what you thought of this chapter and b) if you think I should continue this story.

One final thing – I know I talk WAY too much for my own good (lol Daygoner) – if you haven't already done so, please check out my new fic 'Hearts on Fire' and leave a review telling me what you think.