The Next Morning:
Haley had finally left Lucas' house. She felt terrible for running out on Brooke like she had…and even worse for ignoring Brooke's calls…all ten of them. She slowly walked down the sidewalk and walked into her house…immediately seeing Brooke sleeping. She figured Brooke would have gone home by now, but to her surprise, she never left her spot on the couch. Haley went and sat next to her. She picked Brooke's head up, sat down, and laid her head on her lap. She slowly stroked Brooke's hair, until she began to wake up.
"Hey Brooke."
"Haley! I was so worried about you. You just ran out and you didn't answer my calls…"
"Shh…Brooke…I'm fine. How are you?"
"Fine." Brooke responded with her head still in Haley's lap.
"You lie."
Brooke slowly began to sit up. Her head was pounding from all the crying she had done the previous night, but she didn't care.
"Haley…I want you to be able to talk to me. I hate that you do that to yourself. I'm here for you, all the time. You know that."
"I do, Brooke. And I love you for that. It's just so hard……"
"Haley- I'll help you. I love you."
"I love you too Brooke." Then she mumbled under her breath…."if you only knew how much."
"What'd you say?"
"What? Oh- nothing."
"Haley James….talk to me. Don't make me tickle you!" Brooke was trying everything she could think of to keep Haley's mind off of the previous days events.
"Fine. It's just a realization I've come to…that's all."
"Well, do share."
"There's this person I've liked for a really long time……"
"Ooo Haley's got a crush." Haley all of a sudden became very serious and Brooke realized the day after her sister's death was not the time to be joking.
"Brooke…I think it's more than a crush."
"Like, you think you're in love?"
"No.. I know I'm in love."
"How?"
"Every time I'm around yo- I mean…this person…I get butterflies in my stomach. I want nothing more than to see them happy and be in their arms."
"Haley- who is it?" Brooke felt her heart starting to break.
" I can't."
"Yes you can."
"You'll kill me."
"Never…you'll always have me. Now just tell me who this mystery love of your life is."
"That's the problem."
"Huh?"
"Brooke…it's you."
Brooke just looked at Haley for what seemed like forever until Haley got up and began to speak.
"Brooke…I'm sorry. I understand if you never wanna see me again. I gotta go, bye." Brooke grabbed Haley's arms gently to tell her to stop.
"Haley!"
"What, Brooke? What could you possibly have to say?"
"Hales…I'm in love with you too."
"Then why were you so surprise.." Haley was cut off by Brooke's lips on her own. It was everything she had expected it to be…and more. She felt weak in the knees. Never before and never again would a kiss compare to this. Haley reluctantly began to pull away when air became an issue.
"Brooke..how are we gonna tell everyone."
"Hales?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up." And once again, their lips met in a passionate kiss.