A/N: Thank you everyone for the awesome reviews... I love all the input you're all giving me. I promise you guys won't be disappointed. :)

Chapter 4: Lies and Alibis

"Hey Brooke," Nathan yawned as he walked into his kitchen, "you're up awfully early."
"So are you," Brooke replied as she stirred her coffee.
"What's up with the outfit?" Nathan asked as he poured himself a bowl of cereal.
"Interview with Jackson Bishop..." Brooke started.
"You mean that designer guy?" Nathan asked.
"The one and only. He wants to form a partnership," Brooke smiled.
"Wow, that'd be awesome. Haley would love it if you moved out here."
"I know... Nathan, I need to ask you something..." Brooke started.
"What's up?"
"Are you and Haley happy?"
"What kind of question is that?" Nathan asked.
"Maybe it's not my place, but yesterday you seemed so hot and cold with her and she's so lonely," Brooke spoke as she took a seat next to him.
"Haley and I are wonderful. We don't fight, ever. We're going to be bringing a baby into the world in a few months... Things couldn't be better," Nathan said as he looked her straight in the eye.
"Okay," Brooke said almost convinced.

"If this is about last night... That girl, it was nothing. You have my word," Nathan spoke as he walked back into the kitchen to put his bowl in the sink. "I promise."

Brooke smiled and nodded her head as she walked Nathan walk back to his bedroom.

A few hours later, Haley was sitting on the couch writing lyrics in her journal and humming to herself. Mac walked in and plopped down beside her.

"Hey," Haley smiled, hardly looking up.
"Hey yourself," Mac replied as she sighed. Haley looked up and noticed that the girl seemed very troubled.
"Want to talk about it?" Haley asked as she closed her journal.
"Me and Lucas are still fighting... where did he go anyway?" Mac asked.
"He and Nathan went for a jog. They should be back anytime... So what is it that has you so upset?"
"Brooke. I know all about her. Lucas has told me everything..."

"Well, then you know that Brooke is not a threat to you... If anyone is, it's Peyton," Haley joked. But it wasn't funny.
"You guys all have so much history..."
"Yeah, but we also have a lot of issues. Most of which we haven't even started to try and resolve."

"Sometimes I wish I had never met Lucas..." Mac admitted.
"Whoa, sweetie," Haley started as she put her arm around the girl, "talk to me... this sounds like it's a lot deeper than what happened with Brooke last night."
"Well, you know him... He's just so incredibly charming. You can't help but fall in love with him," Mac sighed.
"Then what's the problem?" Haley asked curiously.
"Lucas only proposed because I'm pregnant..."

"So... he's a good guy, you know that."
"I don't want him to marry me just because I'm pregnant. I need to know that he feels about me, the way he felt for Brooke and Peyton..." Mac sighed as tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"Mac, I haven't talked to Lucas in a very long time, but I know that he would never just propose to someone if he didn't really care about them. Baby or not. And who cares about Brooke and Peyton. That was a long time ago. It obviously didn't work out with them then, it won't work out with them now. So, you should stop stressing out so much, it's not good for the baby," Haley spoke as she hugged her new friend.
"But what if, Haley? Then what?" Mac asked as she wiped her tears away.
"I don't know... you just need to have faith in what you and Lucas share. You should really talk to him about everything you're feeling. Lucas will make you feel so much better. He's really good at that," Haley smiled. Mac smiled back. Just then, Lucas and Nathan walked in, their clothes soaked from sweat.

"Hey baby! How was your jog?" Haley grinned as she ran and jumped in her husband's arms.
"Not as much fun as the jogs we used to have," Nathan winked as he leaned down and kissed her.
"Haley, jogging? I have to see it to believe it," Lucas laughed as he walked over to Mac and kissed the top of her head.
"It wasn't exactly the jogging, we were talking about," Nathan laughed as Haley playfully hit him in the shoulder. Lucas just shook his head.
"Hey honey, do you think that maybe we could talk for a few minutes?" Mac asked.
"Sure, you wanna talk while I grab a shower. I promised Mouth I'd meet him at this sports bar downtown. You should come. Rach will probably be there too..." Lucas smiled at his fiance.
"Nah, it's okay. Maybe we can talk later tonight. I'd actually rather go shopping while I'm here," Mac forced a smile on her face.
"You know, I think I'll join you," Haley smiled as she grabbed her purse from the coffee table.
"Are you sure you guys will be okay? I mean two pregnant women shopping by themselves?" Lucas asked.
"We'll be fine. We're big girls, Luke," Mac laughed.
"Hey honey, what are your plans today?" Haley asked Nathan before heading out the door.
"I have practice in a couple hours. I'll call you," Nathan kissed Haley one more time before the girls were out the door.

"Miss Davis? I'm so glad you finally agreed to meet with me," a very stylish, tall, broad man grinned as he sat down at the table. The man was none other than Jackson Bishop. Brooke had showed up to his office first thing that morning but his assistant imformed her that his plane from Europe had been delayed so Brooke spent the morning checking out all the great boutiques L.A. had to offer.

"I just figured that since I was already out here, now would be the perfect opportunity." Brooke grinned. This man was so handsome.
"I'm really sorry about this morning, I hope you weren't too upset," Jackson smiled at the cute, brunette.
"Are you kidding? It gave me time to check out all the great stores down Rodeo Drive... the friends I'm here visiting don't really care for fashion the way I do." Brooke couldn't help but smile. This was like a dream come true.
"What are your friends names again?" Jackson asked curiously.
"Haley and Nathan Scott..."
"Ah, the star of the Lakers," Jackson smiled.
"You know of him?" Brooke asked excited.
"Are you kidding? Everyone knows of him. You know, maybe we could get him to model for us sometime," Jackson spoke as he sipped his water.
"I doubt it. Nathan's not really into that kind of stuff," Brooke laughed nervously now wondering if Jackson was gay. He picked up on it immediately.
"I'm not gay, Brooke," Jackson laughed.
"What? I...I never thought you were," Brooke blushed.
"I just think Nathan could be the face of our new line..."
"Our line?" Brooke squealed.
"Well, you are going to be my partner, aren't you?" Jackson grinned.
"Definitely, where do I sign?" Brooke could hardly contain herself.

"Hey Luke! Where's the future Mrs?" Rachel asked as she sipped her beer.
"She and Haley wanted to go shopping... Where's Mouth?" Lucas asked as he sat down in the booth.
"Bathroom," Rachel replied.
"L.A. is pretty awesome, isn't it?" Lucas asked trying to make small talk.
"Definitely. Not as awesome as New York though..." Rachel laughed.
"Hey Luke," Mouth stuck his hand out to slap Luke's as he sat down next to his girlfriend. "Where's Mac?"
"Shopping with Haley," Lucas answered before ordering a soda from the waitress.
"She's really pretty," Rachel smiled.
"Yeah, and she's nice," Lucas replied.
"Nice is good... not quite the best word to describe a future wife," Mouth laughed.
"We're happy. Isn't that the most important thing?" Lucas asked.
"Happy is a big part of it... Do you love her?" Mouth asked.
"I do," Lucas smiled.
"But... she's no Peyton or Brooke?" Rachel asked eagerly.
"They're all very different," Lucas tried to explain.
"Brooke's lookin pretty great, isn't she?" Rachel teased.
"Brooke always looked great," Lucas laughed shaking his head and chugging his soda.

Peyton wandered to the luggage claim of LAX. She had gotten to L.A. 5 hours early and didn't have the chance to call anyone. She waited for what felt like ever watching the bags go by and when she finally saw hers she bumped past a tall, dark haired guy hugging some blonde girl.

"Sorry, just need my bag," Peyton spoke not looking up.
"Peyton?" Nathan asked.
"Nathan, what are you doing? Who is that?" Peyton asked.
"This is Aubrey. She's one of the Laker Girls," Nathan smiled.
"Okay, but why are you here?" Peyton repeated.
"She needed a lift home. She's been in Dallas," Nathan responded as if it wasn't a big deal.
"Haley doesn't mind?" Peyton asked curiously.
"Not at all. So, why don't I go ahead and give you a lift back to our place too," Nathan smiled. Peyton was very confused. Something felt so wrong.