Brooke awoke right smack dab at dawn--like she always did--taking a sniff of the fresh morning air before bumping the snoozing blond next to her. Haley mumbled a few words as she groggily arose, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. As long as she's known the giddy brunette, not once has she ever slept a day in, well at least not that she's familiar with. Why oh why did Brooke have to be an early bird?

"Morning!", Brooke shrieked, hopping onto Lucas' motionless body and straddled his waist. Lucas shot up slightly, eyes barely cracked, looking up at the brunette's bright smile.

"Why are you always so cheerful?", he asked.

"Why are you always brooding", she shot back, a playful smile adorning her features.

"Good point. I think I'll call you cheery."

"And, I think I'll call you", Brooke poked his chest, "broody."

"AND", Nathan said, continuing the conversation.

"I think I'll call you", he mischievously smirked at Haley, "sexy."

Haley rolled her eyes. God why did men have to be such pigs and totally blunt about it? She should of expected it though, after all it is Nathan.

"I think if you don't shut up, you won't be alive to call me anything." She batted her eyelashes at him sweetly, before grabbing her black backpack to dig for a comb. Not finding anything she sighed, raking her hands through her untamed hair.

"Brooke do you have my brush?"

Brooke grabbed her own bag and pulled two oval brushes out, tossing one to Haley as she proceeded to use her own.

"Thanks."

"Thanks", Nathan said, mimicking Haley's voice as he stood up, stretching his long arms out and yawning. Haley rolled her eyes, throwing the brush into her bag as she stood up too.

"Shut up or die, remember?", she threatened, while her eyes wandered down his bare chest. She watched as the muscles of his arms flexed as he continued to stretch out his long body, his toned abs tightening, memorized by each and every curve. She had to admit, he did have a good body. Okay wait, that was an understatement, a GREAT body, but she wasn't going to let anyone know that and especially not him, Mr. Ego Inflation.

"See something you like?", Nathan asked, smirking at Haley's red tinted face. She looked away from him in embarrassment, the blush getting deeper on her cheeks. She wasn't used to being caught nearly drooling over a guy, because hell she never did. But with Nathan, she just couldn't help it, his body was to delicious to ignore.

"Where are we headed to now?", Brooke wondered aloud. She figured they must have already made it at least half way there which meant it couldn't be too long before they reached their target. She hoped so, sleeping another night in itchy grass surrounded by millions of bugs, and two snoring boys sleeping besides her was not something she wanted to experience again.

"To the cabin, duh", Nathan supplied, earning a small smack on the shoulder from Brooke.

"I know that smart ass, I mean where are we headed to get to the cabin."

"Yeah", Lucas agreed, all three of them looking at Nathan expectantly. The raven-haired boy reluctantly stopped what he was doing to explain.

"About two miles from the cabin is a river that empties into this lake, so we need to head right."

"Why right?", Brooke asked, "what are you some kind of directions specialist now?"

"No hello, if you weren't paying attention, my uncle owns this cabin so I've been here before. Left is down the mountain, right is up, the cabin is further up the mountain, therefore, the entrance to the river will be on the right side of the lake. Any more questions? I think you and Haley should really switch hair colors 'cuz you sure do act like the blond of the group, if you know what I mean."

Brooke gasped as her eyes flared, staring daggers into Nathan's face.

"Oh, my, god! He actually admitted he isn't a professional at everything, amazing!", she screamed, flapping her arms around madly.

Haley sighed, this wasn't good.

"You know what? You are the biggest bitch, I've ever met!", Nathan yelled back, both now in each others' face.

"Why you-"

"Okay, okay, that's enough", Lucas cut in, grabbing Brooke by the elbow to drag her away from his brother. He knew if things escalated too far the two would probably end up killing each other, besides that he felt kind of bad for Haley having to stop all of the fights.

"Well, I think it is going to be a lovely day", Haley stated jokingly and Lucas chuckled.

"Yeah, a very 'lovely' day indeed", he replied looking between Brooke and Nathan's angry statures.


Nathan and Lucas paddled up the lake, the morning sun shining brightly through the cracks in the trees that covered the beautiful lake. Brooke had a mirror out, powdering her nose while Haley ran her fingers through the water.

"You better watch it, you don't want a Paraná to get you", Nathan smiled and Haley stuck her tongue out teasingly.

"Liar."

"Obviously, since that's all he does", Brooke put in, smiling evilly when Nathan's grin turned into a glare.

"Brooke", Haley sighed, and the brunette shrugged.

"What? It's true."

"Says the bimbo whose putting on make up in the middle of nowhere", Nathan threw back, causing Brooke to open her mouth.

"Don't", Haley stopped her, "say anything. You started it."

Earlier she thought the two of them were nearly going to kill themselves, what with the snide comments made getting on the boat, and harsh looks flying in between the two, it almost made her want to kill herself if she had to hear any more bickering from either of them. Poor Lucas probably was thinking the same thing.

"I started it?!", she cried incredulously.

"He started it when he called me a dumb blond!"

"You started it then too!", Nathan said, now coming into the argument. Here we go again.

"You did, Brooke."

"Oh so what, now you're taking his side?"

Haley again sighed heavily—which rest assured, she was getting tired of—wiping some of her wavy golden locks from her face.

"I'm not taking anybodies side, I am just saying."

Brooke huffed, turning her back on the blond.

"Whatever. I don't want to talk to anyone."

Haley shook her head at Brooke's childish behavior. For as long as she has known her, Brooke had always been the brat when she didn't get her way, which produced many silent treatments to people. But she knew in no time, the hard headed girl would feel guilty and apologize, so she just sat back and waited.


They had finally made it to the opening of the river, but since it was flowing outwards could not use the boat to go up stream. They docked it on the river bank and headed up the small grass covered hill and into the trees. Nathan was ahead since he was 'technically' the leader, with Haley and Lucas strolling behind and Brooke last. A few moments later she flew past Haley and Lucas, ignoring the both of them.

"She's still mad I take it?"

Haley let out a small smile, nodding at Lucas.

"Yeah, but she will get over it. As long as I've known Brooke, this is one of her spoiled brat moments."

"Ah, I see. So just how long have you known her?"

"My whole life, she's my cousin."

It was Lucas' turn to nod as he shoved his hands into his pockets. After five minutes of silently walking, he turned to Haley.

"Wanna' play secret to secret?", he asked and Haley gave him a strange look, she had never heard of that game before.

Lucas chuckled.

"It's where we exchange secrets, I'm bored", he admitted and Haley grinned.

"Okay you go first."

Lucas thought about it for a second, then snapped his fingers.

"I got it. Did you know—and never repeat this to anyone, I'm serious not even Nathan knows this, which I'd like to keep it that way—my middle name is... Eugene."

Haley bursted out laughing as Lucas nodded his head in understanding.

"Eugene?", she replied.

"Yeah, now shh", he said and Haley giggled softer.

"Sorry. So now I guess it's my turn, hmm let's see. Oh! I know, I am deathly afraid of clowns."

"Clowns?"

Haley nodded.

"No way!", Lucas laughed and Haley lightly shoved him.

"Hey, they're pretty scary. Painted faces, large red noses, weird fuzzy hair, and the shoes!"

"What's wrong with the shoes?"

"Have you seen the size of them? Waay to big."

"Hey you know what they say about big feet", Lucas retorted, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. Haley scrunched up her nose in disgust, before giggling.

"Ugh Luke, gross. Just add that to my clown nightmares."

Lucas shook his head, throwing his arm around Haley's shoulder. She didn't mind one bit, she felt comfortable around Luke—in a friendly way of course—and the warmth in his personality matched her own.

"You're silly", he said, ruffling her hair.


It was now afternoon Haley realized, as she glanced at her watch. The four had already been traveling for more than five hours and she was starting to get thirsty, her body was tired and the rumbling of her stomach brought about the means for food.

"How much longer?", Brooke asked Nathan, surprisingly politely as they all stopped for a break.

"Probably just a few more hours", he answered, wiping the sweat from his glistening forehead.

"Okay."

Haley and Lucas looked on in shock. Were Nathan and Brooke actually being... nice to each other?

"Wait, I thought you guys were fighting", Lucas asked puzzled and Haley shook her head in agreement.

"Nope, I'm not fighting with him, are you fighting with me Nathan?"

"Not really."

"But—where's all the screaming and rude comments?", Haley asked.

"Well wind", Brooke responded, "we called a truce and are now friends."

"Since when?", Lucas put in incredulously.

"Well wind number two, since we had a chance to talk while you breezes abandoned us."

"Me? What did I do?", he asked as Brooke held her head high, trying to ignore both blonds.

"Since you didn't stick up for me."

"And what's your problem Nathan? Why are you ignoring us as well?" It was Haley's turn to ask this as she put her hands on her hips. Nathan propped his head up high, mimicking the brunette next to him.

"Because you didn't stick up for me either, wind", he retorted.

"What the hell are you talking about!? Yes I did you bastard!", Haley refuted sardonically.

"Not the first time you didn't."

Haley's eyes bugged out of their sockets at his retort.

"Well excuse me, I did not know I had to be your support system!"

Lucas chuckled at Haley's comment and Nathan glared at thim.

"What the hell are you laughing at wind number two. You didn't stick up for me either."

Lucas shook his head looking between the two.

"So let me get this straight, you two are mad at US", he motioned towards himself and Haley, "because we didn't stand up for the both of you, in a fight you guys created?"

At Brooke and Nathan's blank stares, Lucas chuckled disbelievingly.

"Shall we continue Nate?", Brooke said.

"We shall", Nathan stated as the two continued walking again.

"I do not believe this", Haley spoke quietly to Lucas as the two started walking again, "they get into a fight about each other and end up being mad at us."

Lucas nodded, fully understanding where Haley was coming from. Things were just as weird for him as they were for her and he was thankful he wasn't losing his mind alone.

"They're crazy."

"Yep."


So what do you think? I know there hasn't been any Naley lovin' so far, but bear with me, I'm getting to it:) Read and Review! Thanks Guys!