"Hey." Haley's reply was short and soft as Lucas embraced his longest friend.
"Did you find out anything?"
"We'll know in a week or two." Peyton informed him as Haley, Brooke and Lucas sat on the couch and Nathan entered the apartment.
"Know what?" Nathan asked, walking over to take a seat beside Haley.
"If the pervert gave her anything." Brooke told him as Haley became increasingly uncomfortable.
"Um, I'm gonna go to bed." Haley announced as she stood up and moved behind the couch.
"Haley, I'm so sorry." Brooke apologized now realizing the effect of what she had said.
"Not your fault Brooke."
"No, I shouldn't have-"
"Well it's true. I did just come from the hospital to find out if I'm pregnant, if I have any STD's. Oh and the only reason my husband is talking to me is because I was hurt. Oh and to add to this all the only way I can feel safe around you two, is with these two in the room with me. I'm not messed up at all." Haley ranted as tears flowed down her face.
"C'mon." Brooke coaxed bringing her arm around Haley's shoulders and leading her to their room.
"She's afraid of us?" Lucas asked to no one in particular.
"She thinks I'm only talking to her because of this?" Nathan asked, again to no one in particular.
"Well it's true." Peyton scoffed.
"What?" Both brothers asked.
"Yes, she's afraid of you guys, she was just attacked. Haley, was attacked, the girl who trusts everyone. And you, if she hadn't of been attacked you would not have spent last night with her let alone be sitting here right now." Peyton informed them as she sat in between the two.
"Well what am I supposed to do?" Nathan thought out loud.
"Same thing you expected her to do when you got hurt." Lucas answered.
"I didn't know what I expected her to do."
"What would you have done if she had of come to the hospital?"
"I don't know, she never came."
"Yea, cause you told her not to."
"Shut up. Both of you." Brooke hushed coming out from the bedroom.
"How is she?"
"How do you think? Anyway, Lucas I think you should go and talk to her."
"Why him?" Nathan argued.
"Cause he doesn't pity her." Brooke told him.
"Brooke, are you sure that's a good idea, I mean she just told us-"
"I know what she said. Just remind her of who you are to her and that you won't hurt her."
"Alright. I'll be back I guess." Lucas nodded before heading into the room.
"Hey buddy." Lucas called softly to the small form that was sitting in her bed, blanket pulled up around her as she leaned against the wall.
"Lucas." Haley returned, her voice revealing the tiniest quiver of fear.
"Hales, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"I know. I just… I'm stupid." Haley sighed as she silently beat herself up.
"You're not stupid. You're the smartest person any of us know." Lucas told her, slowly making his way to her bed before sitting on the edge of it. "Remember, remember when you first found out Santa wasn't real?"
"Yea." She sighed, moving over so Lucas could lean against the wall beside her.
"And you couldn't believe that your parents had lied to you all those years, and then you found out that me, Skills and Mouth already knew and you were pissed that none of us told you?" Haley nodded her head before placing it on Lucas' shoulder. "You went on for like a week about how you couldn't trust anyone, everyone lied to you and you threatened to run away to find a family you could trust. Who was the first person you let back in?" Lucas asked. Haley said nothing but poked him in the arm and looked up in his eyes. Lucas knew he had gotten through to her. The awkwardness and fear subsided as the two slid into a comfortable silence.
"I don't want his pity Luke."
"He's not trying to give you pity."
"I just, I know that if this hadn't of happened we wouldn't, he wouldn't be here right now."
"But he is Hales. He'd do anything for you, he may very well go to jail for you if he ever finds this Billy guy and we're not there to stop him from killing the guy. He was just scared."
"Whatever. I, I'm going out." Haley quipped as she quickly grabbed a jacket and slipped on her shoes. Before Lucas had a chance to stop her she walked out of the bedroom, past the living room and out the front door.
"I'm going." Nathan told the girls before they had a chance to send someone else.