Thank you for reviewing deli41321, boombaibe, ssphinxx, don't-confess68, lilmonkeygirl31, hybridwolf10, JeniRose, xSmile, krizue, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, Duckygirl, naley-obsseshunz-xOx.
boombaibe: I think Haley is a strong character, and that really needs to be acknowledged in these stories. Particularly this Haley, given all that she's gone through.
Hybridwolf10: keep reading – at some point I will take that hint.
Enjoy the chapter. There's at least one huge revelation coming. It may (or may not) be a surprise. My personal theory is that you all know it already!
Nathan held the cellphone to his ear, wincing as he heard his coach's harsh tones, completely leached of any sympathy.
"Look, I understand that you're going through a family crisis – my wife does read the tabloids, Scott – but you and your brother need to come back. I've told him that, several times, and he keeps telling me to wait, so I'm calling you. I'm sorry about the situation with your kid - although it's the first I've heard of it – but we're getting pummelled out here, and you both need to get back, pronto."
Nathan sighed.
"Look, coach, it's not that easy -"
"I didn't say it was easy, kid. I just said to do it. You don't get back soon, both of you, and there's no way we're making the playoffs this year. So get your ass in gear."
The phone clicked off, and Nathan flipped it shut, an annoyed expression on his face.
He couldn't leave now. There was no way, if he did, that Haley would understand.
Haley sat in the lounge of her suite, staring at Brooke as Peyton giggled.
"Oh my god! I'm giggling! I haven't done that in forever!"
Haley rolled her eyes at Peyton's comment, still staring at Brooke.
"You. And Lucas."
Brooke nodded. Her expression was slightly scared.
"What were you thinking, Brooke? You know you're dating Jean-Luc!"
"But it's Lucas!"
Peyton, still giggling, made a heroic attempt to curb her reaction. There was silence for a few seconds, and then she started up again.
Brooke, distracted, stared at her friend.
"Is she really giggling?"
Haley nodded.
Peyton, through her giggles, managed to say something almost coherent.
"You a-a-and L-lucas! It's s-s-s-s-sooo 2005!"
Brooke shook her head, serious now.
"That's never happening again, Peyton. Just shut up!"
Peyton, her giggles magically halted, nodded.
"Look, I didn't mean anything by it, Brooke! You know I love you."
Brooke smiled a little at her friend.
"I love you, too, P. Sawyer-Jagielski." She paused. "Also, I think I still love Lucas."
Haley and Peyton just looked at Brooke. She started to smile.
"Oh – no fair! You already knew!"
Haley burst out laughing. "Oh, come on, Brooke! Of course we knew!"
"It's only been true for eight years, after all." Peyton rolled her eyes.
Brooke shook her head, making a hurt face at her friends. "You don't need to rub it in! Besides, neither of you are any better: you and Jake are like, stable with a kid," she pointed at Peyton, "and you –" her attention swinging to Haley, Brooke paused. "Oops."
Haley's expression tightened a little, and her eyebrows raised.
"Forget it." Brooke made a dismissive gesture with her hand and turned to Peyton.
"I don't think we should forget it, Brooke." Peyton was finally serious, her eyes steadily gazing at Haley. "We all know what you were about to say."
"And what is that, Peyton?" Haley asked, her tone of disinterest belied by the slight crack in her voice.
"You know what I'm talking about, Haley. I'm talking about the fact that you still love Nathan."
Jake, Lucas, and Nathan, slumped on the armchairs in the lounge of Nathan's suite, were silent. Finally Jake spoke.
"So you have to get back to work, too, huh? Because I haven't wanted to mention it to Haley, but Peyton and I probably need to get back, too. Her next show's coming up soon, and my editor's starting to get a little antsy."
Lucas spoke up. "Coach apparently really needs us. And my mom wants to visit with Haley and Faith – apparently she's the closest thing to a grandchild Mom expects to have for at least the next five years – but not till they're back home and she can help with all the settling in. Haley's parents are the same, too – their RV's in Texas at the moment, but as soon as she's settled they'll be coming."
Nathan finally spoke, almost reluctantly. "Karen's visiting?"
Lucas nodded. "And Keith. They're really excited about it, actually."
Nathan nodded. "Cool."
Lucas looked at his brother.
"Hey, Nate, snap out of it, man! You knew we'd have to go back."
Nathan shook his head, his expression darkening. "Look, Lucas, you just don't get it. If I leave now, Haley'll never understand. I mean, she has to stay for the trial and everything – "
Lucas frowned. "No, she doesn't. I actually don't know why she's still here. She'd probably be better going home to wait. Apparently nothing's likely to happen for at least a couple of months, despite Dan's high-powered attorney and the DA assigned to Knight's case. Apparently they'll be tried together, but in the meantime there's no bail, and it's just a matter of building up the case."
Nathan frowned. "So why hasn't she gone home?"
Lucas shrugged. "I really don't know. I think it just hasn't occurred to her."
Haley's face was blank as she stared at Peyton, assimilating her last statement.
It was that obvious?
"I don't love Nathan, Peyton."
The weak response didn't convince anybody.
"I really don't."
And then Haley started sobbing.
Brooke closed her eyes, only to open them to shoot a disgusted glare at a rather abashed Peyton. Rushing over to where Haley stood, she enfolded her in her arms.
"Of course you don't, tutorgirl."
Haley's sobs only got louder as Brooke hugged her, rubbing her back in a repetitive and soothing motion. Brooke looked helplessly over Haley's shoulder towards Peyton, trying to gain some sort of inspiration from her friend in how to deal with this kind of grief, but Peyton only shrugged, an equally helpless look on her own face.
So instead of saying anything, Brooke stood there, her eyes closed as she took in the sound of one of her closest friends' broken heart. It didn't sound good. It sounded messy, and jagged, and lonely, and Brooke was so afraid that if she admitted the truth, she would be making exactly the same sort of sound.
It was those Scott boys. You couldn't help but love them, but you also couldn't trust them not to break your heart. No matter how much you wanted to be able to, and no matter how many chances you gave them. Eventually, it seemed, they were incapable of doing anything other than failing to meet your expectations. And, more than failing, failing miserably.
That's why it had been so difficult for Brooke to admit that she still loved Lucas. But admit it she had, and now it was time to do something about it. Even as Haley's wrenching sobs quietened to muffled sniffles, Brooke's eyes narrowed, determination in their depths. She would challenge that truth. She would challenge the past. She was Brooke Davis, by God, and no man got the better of her.
If she loved Lucas Scott, then he would just have to shape up.
And maybe, just maybe, kick some sense into his brother.
Brooke was so enamoured of her plan that she almost missed the murmur of Haley's voice, huskily emitting from her hot and raw throat.
"What was that, tutorgirl?"
Standing behind Haley, her hand on Haley's shoulder, Peyton leant in closer to hear, too.
"I do love Nathan."
Haley pulled away from her friends, her tearstained face determined.
"But he doesn't love me, not anymore. And even if he did, I can't trust him."
Brooke nodded. Yep, Lucas Scott had a job to do.
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