Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm finally back with another chapter of ITPOAA! Aren't you all so happy? At least I am. I really struggled with what I wanted to write in this chapter since it was right after a major event in the story. I really wanted to write a fun scene and I hope I achieved that in this chapter. I hope you guys like it! As always, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.

Rating: K+ to T

P.S. – I will probably be updating TSS next then FOWB, but it depends on which story I get inspired for the most lol

P.S. again – I kind of wrote this chapter a little different. I wrote it like I did with the first few chapters, in different POVs.

In the Presence of An Angel

Chapter 23

Haley's POV

Okay, so here I am at 9:00 on a Friday night among a throng a people dancing and jiving to some of today's hottest music. And where was I? Sitting on a couch, alone.

Brooke and I had been lying on our bed in the apartment, bored, and trying to think of something to do. Okay, so we weren't really bored; we were making out like there was no tomorrow. But after a while, I did get bored and we stopped. How could I get bored, you ask? I mean, come on, I have Brooke Davis as my girlfriend; she's hot, I can't deny that. So how in the hell did I find myself pulling away? I guess sometimes you have to take a little breather and come up for air, right?

We thought for a while, pondering what we could do, besides make out of course, and Brooke said she wanted to do something fun. And when Brooke Davis wants to have fun, she means a party. One of her little things about her parties though? She never had them at her house. She didn't want to be left to clean up the mess and have naked people in her bed. Well, except for me and herself, that is. So, the unsuspecting victim tonight? Nathan Scott's apartment.

Within the first few days of moving into our own apartment, Brooke and I had quickly discovered the hiding place for the spare key to Nathan's apartment that he often used when he came home drunk and was too wasted to even find the right key on his key ring. It's amazing how he was even able to get home. So Brooke called a few people, okay well she called almost the whole school, and invited them to the party. We went shopping for the snacks and got out whatever was left in Nathan's cabinets and poured them into bowls. And of course being Brooke Davis, she had connections for the alcohol.

When Nathan came home, he was surprised to say the least but he immediately joined in the festivities.

Did I mention I was alone? Parties were never really my kind of scene and I didn't know where the hell Brooke was, probably somewhere getting drunk off her ass and paying no mind to the advice I had given her. I mean, I'm only her girlfriend looking out for her own best interest. Why should she listen to me? I had asked her not to drink, worried that if she did, it might affect her heart and my heart had had one too many scares in the last two months since we'd begun dating and even before that when we were just friends.

I take a sip of my punch and watch everything that's happening around me. I see couples kissing, dancing to a slow song in each other's arms, some stupid jocks drinking and playing games… I wish I had that. Not the stupid jocks of course, but I wished I was dancing with Brooke and kissing her. I sighed heavily and stared into my cup of punch then set it on the table and made my way towards the keg.

Brooke's POV

I was sitting in the kitchen on a stool, bored, as Jake and Nathan talked basketball and I had no idea where Peyton and Lucas were, probably making out somewhere, or worse, having sex in Nathan's bedroom. Nathan would be scarred for life.

Why was I bored? Especially at one of my own parties? Because I wasn't pissed drunk and Haley was not to be found. It's amazing the kind of effect she has on me. Ever since the party that night that seemed so long ago, I haven't had a drop of alcohol. That's just the way she is. She has this aura that whenever she's around you, she makes you want to be a better person, do anything you can to be the best person you can be. Sometimes I feel so inadequate around her. She's so perfect and I have a bad past, bad habits. I wish I could throw all my bad past and memories and bad habits into a pot and burn it to ashes, start anew. But Haley once said that you can't have a future without a past and a present. Your past shapes you and prevents you from making the same mistakes; it's part of who you are. What you do in the present, can affect your future. Boy, I am becoming insightful, aren't I? That's just how much Haley rubs off on me.

Suddenly I felt the urgent need to see my girlfriend. I left the kitchen and went in search of Haley, finding her sitting at one end of the couch looking very uncomfortable, a couple making out on the other end. She had what looked like a cup of vodka in her hand and my eyes widened in surprise at this. Haley wasn't much of a drinker and when she did, she usually didn't hit the hard stuff like she was now. It worried me that something may be wrong and I approached her concernedly.

As I neared her, she looked up and our eyes met. My breath caught quick in my throat at the loneliness shining from them. I immediately felt bad for leaving her. Earlier, Jake had asked Haley to dance and I felt that she was in good hands so I had moved on to find our other friends. I slowly approached her and wordlessly took her hand, pulling her up off the couch and leading her down the hallway to Nathan's spare bedroom. Thankfully, it was empty. I closed the door behind us then turned to her and wrapped her in a tight hug that lasted for several indeterminable minutes. I softly kissed her cheek then her lips, both seeking and giving comfort. "I'm sorry I left you alone," I whispered when we pulled away, my nose grazing a few strands of her hair as I nuzzled her cheek. "It's okay. You're here now," Haley replied softly as she wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder, placing a butterfly kiss on my neck, which sent shivers down my spine.

We stayed like that, just holding each other, for several minutes, content at just being near one another again. The hug ended when Haley pulled away. She took her hand and pulled me towards the door as she gave Brooke a small smile, "Come on, let's go find the gang." We found them all in the kitchen playing a game of 'I Never'. Tonight the gang consisted of Peyton and Lucas, Jake, Nathan, Tim, Mouth, and his new girlfriend Erica.

Normal POV

"Hey guys, may we join in," Haley asked as she sat down beside Lucas. "Sure, the more people the better," Nathan responded as he poured some shots for them. "Okay, who's next," Mouth asked. "Well Lucas went last time so now it's Haley's turn. Haley?" Nathan responded. "Oh I don't know. Mine are kind of pretty stupid…" she replied. "C'mon Hales, you've gotta do it," Lucas said. "Okay, okay. Um…I've never been to a strip club." All the guys except Mouth groaned as they all downed their shots as well as Brooke and Peyton. "Did you have to bring that up? I'm still scarred from that one time we had an away game and Tim took us to a strip club and it was an all guys night. Meaning there were male strippers…" Lucas responded, a disgusted look on his face, as everyone else laughed.

"Mouth, your turn," Erica said happily, bouncing in her seat and almost falling out of her chair. She was obviously drunk. "Okay, uh…" his cheeks tinted a bright pink as he lowered his head, "I uh, I've never had sex." Everyone except Mouth and Erica drank their shots. Erica leaned into him and whispered in his ear loud enough for all of them to hear, gently tugging on his ear, "We'll take care of that later tonight baby." Mouth's eyes widened in shock and a priceless expression appeared on his face. All of the others laughed. Lucas turned to Haley, noticing that she had downed her shot, and asked with a slightly mad expression and angry tone, "You've had sex! With who?" Lucas' mind reeled at this new information. His sweet, innocent little Haley had been 'deflowered'? He wanted to murder the guy who did this to her, even though it must have been consensual. He wanted to keep his sweet Haley the way she was. She was the prodigal one of the group of friends. "I don't kiss and tell; it's something special that should remain between the two people. It's none of your business, Luke," she responded, a cross look appearing on her face.

Lucas raised his hands in defense, "Okay, okay, don't bite my head off." When Haley had gotten mad at Luke, Brooke discreetly took hold of Haley's hand beneath the table, both to calm her down and for what she had said. Haley turned and gave her a fleeting smile so the others wouldn't notice and gave her hand a light squeeze.

They continued on the game for a while when Brooke noticed that Haley was getting tired and looked a little sick from the slight green tint to her cheeks. Brooke excused them from the game for a few minutes and took her to the bathroom. "Hey, you feeling alright," Brooke asked concernedly as she rubbed her back in soothing circles. "No, not really," Haley mumbled as she leaned into Brooke's chest, "I don't feel so good. I have a really bad headache and I feel like I'm going to throw up." "How much did you have to drink tonight," Brooke asked, stroking her hair. "Just two; some beer and a cup of vodka," she replied, "Brooke, can we go home? I really don't feel well." "Sure Hales, let's go," Brooke responded as she wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen to say goodbye to their friends.

"Hey guys? We're going to head out. Haley isn't feeling too well so we're gonna go home so she can get some rest. We'll see you guys later," Brooke said as she lifted her hand in a wave and the others called out their farewells as she led Haley out of the apartment and across the hall into their own. "Come on baby, let's get you changed into some pajamas and into bed," Brooke said as she gently massaged Haley's head with her fingers then remembered her headache and pulled it away, "sorry." "No, that felt good. Do it some more." Haley responded as she rested her head on Brooke's shoulder. Brooke helped Haley get changed into some pajamas then dressed into her own and slipping under the covers beside her, continuing her massage of Haley's head. Haley's lips sought hers and gently kissed her when they made contact. She said softly, beginning to fall asleep, "Thank you for taking care of me." Brooke moved some of the hair that had fallen in her face and softly kissed her forehead, stroking her cheek, "I'd do anything for you baby." Haley smiled with her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep, remembering the same time she had said those exact words to Brooke.

The next morning, Brooke was awakened by Haley's slender fingers creeping under her shirt then tracing circles on her stomach. In the last month since they'd first become intimate, Haley had begun to be more forward about what she wanted and when she wanted it. Like right now. Brooke responded with her eyes still closed, a small smile on her face, "I take it you're feeling better." Haley chuckled as she placed a gentle kiss on her mouth then deepened it as she scooted up along Brooke's body, "You could say that." Haley's hands moved further up her shirt and they lightly ran over Brooke's breasts, which caused her to moan and thrust her chest up from the hardening of her nipples and the pleasurable feeling Haley created in her.

Brooke's hands found their way under Haley's tank top and she began to copy Haley's actions. Soon their shirts were tossed to the floor and their shorts were kicked off, leaving them both in only a pair of panties. Haley's hands roamed her breasts as she kissed each one all over, again and again. Brooke gently massaged Haley's breasts then began to suck on one until Haley moaned. Haley placed her hands on Brooke's cheeks and pulled her face to hers, their lips crashing together in a heated, passionate kiss.

They kissed for another twenty minutes and were still making out when suddenly, their bedroom door was flung open. "Hey Ha-" Nathan stopped short when he saw Haley and Brooke making out topless and practically naked on her bed. His jaw dropped and his eyes nearly bulged right out of his sockets at the sight. Haley and Brooke, startled, broke away from each other and try to cover themselves. "Nate!" Haley shrieked. "Nathan," Brooke screamed. Haley noticed something and said uncomfortably, "Nate um….your, um…" Brooke noticed it too and responded sharply with a roll of her eyes, "Nathan, shove your dick back in your pants and zip it up. We don't want to see Mr. Winkie popping out." Nathan nodded mutely, still too stunned by what he just saw. "Now get out and wait for us in the living room," Brooke yelled as she pointed towards the door. He nodded silently again.

A few minutes later, Haley came out into the living room fully clothed with her arms crossed, an angry expression on her face. "Nathan, what are you going here and why did you enter our apartment without knocking," she inquired. "I came to see if you wanted to do something together, hang out. I figured I'd be like Lucas and just come in without knocking. You're usually up by now so I thought I'd just go into your room, figuring Brooke would still be asleep since she's not a morning person…well, she is now I guess," Nathan smirked. "Nathan," Brooke shrieked and slapped him in the shoulder, hearing this as she walked out of the bedroom, she too now clothed in a bathrobe. "Sorry," he replied. "Yeah, but Lucas has the common sense and decency not to barge into my bedroom unannounced!" Haley exclaimed.

"Sorry. Won't happen again," he responded as he moved towards the front door. "Hey, I thought you wanted to hang out," Haley inquired. "Nah, I'll let you two continue your activities. At least now I know who you had sex with," Nathan smirked again as he opened the door and stepped out. He turned back to them as he began to close the door, "Bye guys. Oh, and thanks for the show." He winked at them and laughed as he swiftly shut the door, blocking a tennis shoe Haley had thrown at him.