A.N: DIB: Yes my baley-lady-luvvin friends another chapter of TDOBD is finished and with one last chapter to go I bet you cant wait for big dramatic showdown. Its what One tree hill does best. Drama. Hate the subject myself but writing it...that's fun! Don't feel too bad for Brooke, we make her suffer for a reason P And no Jodi it's not because I'm dead inside.

TGT: You are dead inside! Haley getting hit by that car was not funny! Even if she did go – and I quote from your earlier word "squish" it is not a laughing matter! Yes...rant over, enjoy!

Chapter 5: You just crossed the friend line into bitch town

The room was a blanket of darkness, like midnight on the night of an eclipse and the only sound that could be heard through the din of the outside background noise was the heavy breathing of the girls in the room and the rustling noise of tossing and turning. Slumber land was an easier place to be than the reality of the previous night, for Haley it stopped the intense sore headedness she was feeling due to the extreme amount of alcohol that had flown passed her lips, for Brooke sleep brought nothing but forgetting, forgetting the damaging image her mind couldn't overlook of Nathan and Peyton. Sleep was a necessity for both of them, but as life would have it, sleep never lasted long. Not for Haley anyway.

Groggily sitting up, Haley swayed slightly in her bed and groaned out loud, her hands found her head and she rested it on top of them. Closing her eyes she tried to stop the world around her from spinning, even in the intense darkness. Feeling brave she let her hands fall to the bed and grip on to the covers, swinging her legs around she felt better when they touched the floor. She willed herself to stand up and walk, but knowing her she'd stand, take a step forward, and fall into a heap on the floor.

Taking the risk she stood and took that fearful step forward...and didn't fall. Go me! She silently cheered at herself lifting her arms and waving them slightly, which was not the best thing to do because seconds after she felt herself stumble forward and crash into the wall of her and Brooke's bedroom. She kinda loved that wall, that wall was so much more comfortable to fall on than the floor would ever be. She hated that floor and all it's...soreness. Wall pretty and floor bad, yes that was all the logic she could muster.

Sliding her way over to the door Haley gripped the handle and pulled it open. Standing in the threshold she kept herself upright by holding onto the doorframe and then her eyes took in the distance between where she was and the sofa where she wanted to be...it was like the Grand Canyon of distance, which was an accurately stupid comparison. Accurate because well the distance was hugantic and stupid because who had a Grand Canyon like hole in their apartment? Yeah, no one.

She wasn't going to make this not one bit, but her post-alcohol induced mind told her to go for it, cheered her on, wanted to watch her fail miserably and she was going to. But that didn't stop her from taking those fateful steps, one after another until she stood in the middle if the floor desperately wanting to hold on to something, but finding that impossible. The nearest thing seemed miles away and Haley felt herself sinking and she cursed that damn floor below her for having its victory.

Swaying again she could see her impending future and it didn't look good. Then again did falling face first to the ground ever seem like a good thing? And then she felt herself tipping forward and she waited for the impact...only the impact didn't come and the pain didn't flare throughout her body, instead she felt arms encircle her waist, holding her in place and bringing her back into an upright position.

"Black eyes and a broken nose don't really do anything for the wedding pictures." Brooke's voice sounded throughout the otherwise silent apartment.

"No," Haley nodded then sighed in annoyance, her headache not exactly something she was loving. "Though could you imagine the caption? 'Rouge bride made to look like panda, guests laugh and receive the same look.'"

Leading her over to the safety of the sofa, Brooke looked at Haley with raised eyebrows. "Okay, as a rule you are not getting within 20 feet of alcohol. You can be little Miss Abstinence Girl instead of tutor girl," Brooke suggested sitting down next to Haley and then paused. "Though those used to be the same thing, what happened to you Haley James? When did you turn into such a bad apple?"

Turning to Brooke, Haley gave her what she guessed was a glare but with the way Haley was feeling she didn't quite manage it and ended up looking like someone who had gone cock eyed and received a swollen lip. Brooke would have laughed if she wasn't fearful about Haley's reaction, which she had no doubt would hurt. "You know Brooke, I think it was when I became friends with you. Lord knows the corruption you have caused." Haley through out there. "What is it they call you, slut and Cheaty McCheaty?

Brooke glared playfully at Haley and then it all came back to her, how she could forget for those few minutes she didn't know, the images taunted and mocked her like the bitch they were. Her face fell and she noted Haley's look of horror. Thinking to herself if Haley really knew the reason why that was, was because of the sordid mental movie of Peyton and Nathan that played inside her head, her look of horror would transform into something so much more horrific and Brooke didn't know if she had the heart to tell Haley. But she had to didn't she?

Haley wanted to smack herself, she knew Brooke wasn't anything like she had just said and why she had just said that, well she didn't quite know why she did it, it was mean. "Brooke, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."

"No Haley," Brooke began with a distant look in her eyes. "It's not that...it's uh, it's nothing." She finished with a forced laugh. She couldn't do it, she couldn't tell the girl she was crazy in love with that the man she was in love with was making out with their supposed best friend, and maybe more, she couldn't break her heart. Looking anywhere but at Haley, Brooke wished she was any place in the world than here.

"That look isn't nothing Brooke," Haley pointed out, her hand reaching out and slipping into Brooke's. "I know you, do you not realise that? I know your looks and your quirks and that's not a look I like to see on your face. Tell me."

Brooke herself was too caught up in the fact that Haley was touching her, holding her hand. She had froze the second she felt Haley's skin on her own, and all she wanted to do was take Haley into the bedroom where they had just came out of and make her forget who the hell Nathan Scott ever was. Her eyes couldn't move from their clasped hands and she almost broke, almost told her the whole truth of the matter. But how could she do that to Haley? And yet, how could she keep quiet and let her go through with the wedding and marry a man who was so blatantly cheating on her? "Again it's nothing Haley." She heard fall from her mouth.

"It is Brooke!" Haley insisted.

"It isn't!" Brooke sworn, hoping Haley would believe her. There was no way she could tell Haley, ever. It wasn't an option...but a part of her knew if she just opened her mouth and spilled her guts about what she had saw, maybe she could stand a chance.

"Seriously Brooke," Haley spoke her tone impatient. "I want to know, why are you keeping it from me?"

"Listen Haley," Brooke replied her own tone exasperated. "When I say it's nothing, I mean it's nothing, got it?"

"Liar." Haley accused.

Brooke was stumped because she knew that Haley was right, what was she meant to do, tell her the truth? She could see that happening, telling Haley everything, watching her face fall and then seeing her break, and more than anything she wanted to protect Haley from that. "I'm not lying." Brooke mumbled looking away, contradicting herself.

"Like I said Brooke, I know you and you are." Haley groaned in annoyance. "Just tell me! Get over yourself already and tell me what the hell is up? What are you hiding Brooke?" She continued and then paused. "Are you in love with Nathan?" She finished in a harsh whisper.

Hearing Haley say that cause Brooke to bark in laughter, in love with Nathan? Oh yeah she was head over heels in love all right, but it just wasn't with Nathan. "No Haley, I'm really not in love with Nathan."

"Then tell me!" Haley repeated again for the fifth time.

"I swear on my life, that it's nothing." It wasn't like her life meant much to her anymore so swearing it to something didn't really matter to her, Haley wasn't hers so what reason was there to enjoy life now? Who would have thought that Brooke Davis would have been brought down by simply falling in love?

"Do you not trust me enough to tell me?" Haley asked in a quiet voice.

"I love you okay! I love you!" Brooke exploded not being able to handle Haley's consistent questioning anymore. And now that she thought about it she really dreaded what she had done, Can't keep your mouth shut can you Davis? Couldn't just keep that little piece of information to yourself could you? Yeah, cause this is going to end happily ever after. I swear you have a bigger mouth than Paris Hilton when she's on her knees...let's just sit back and watch the fireworks huh? They're going to be colourful. It seemed her inner voice liked to berate her, but she let it because it was the truth after all she couldn't keep quite for long, but she guessed that telling Haley this was a lot less painful than telling Haley about Nathan and Peyton.

Well...a lot less painful to Haley at least, Brooke herself...that was a whole other matter.

She looked at Haley and noted the absolute stillness that she was, like a cave woman who had got trapped in the ice age, and who was just recently discover and had a bad cause of solid stiffness...kinda like Austin Powers when he was regenerated to fight Doctor Evil, Okay Brooke, random much? But yeah, Haley was with the stiffness and Brooke was at a loss of what the hell to do. Doing nothing seemed kind of insensitive but how did you comfort a person you just professed your love to, who was your best friend and of the same sex. But then reaching out and touching Haley would more than likely freak Haley out, so Brooke would settle for the insensitive approach and just sit there awkwardly, looking anywhere that wasn't at Haley.

"Umm..." Haley started to say but then stopped, she really was at a loss for words she'd never been in this sort of situation before so she guessed that that was justified. "...huh?" she wondered confused, turning to stare at Brooke.

"I love you." Brooke whispered.

"You love me?" Haley spoke, the words feeling foreign on her lips.

"Yes." Brooke answered her and before she could stop herself her mouth opened and she couldn't stop the words that spilled out. "I love you so much, and at first I was like 'No, I only love her as a friend.' But damn it Haley you invaded everything that I am until you were all that I saw and wanted. Do you realise how hard it's been to look at you and not be able to have you? Do you know what it's like to wake up across from you every morning and not get out of my bed so I can crawl in beside you? I'm crazy about you and all your damn quirks and every little thing you do that is uniquely Haley James." Brooke continued, stopping for a breath. "Do you know how hard it is to listen to you talk about your wedding and not be able to tell you that it's killing me inside? Do you think it's easy for me to watch you with him and see how blissfully happy he makes you when I wish I was the one who was doing exactly that?"

Haley was giving her the most peculiar look. As if waiting for the cameras and TV presenter to appear from their hiding places and tell her this was all a big joke. She let out an uncertain laugh and backed away from Brooke, albeit very unsteadily due to her present intoxication. "You're kiddin' right?" Haley's meek response was almost a whisper, filled with confusion and disbelief. But Brooke could also feel the fear radiating off her in waves. Haley was suddenly so afraid it was palpable, visible from the way her voice had cracked so easily and through each shaky breath she took as she waited for Brooke's reply. Unbeknownst to her tears had begun to stream down her friend's face at the three words she'd uttered. Brooke stood up and moved over to the kitchen counter just to have something to lean on and escape the bitter sadness that filled her when she was near Haley.

A minute passed and Brooke's lack of a reply told Haley this wasn't a joke. At that moment she felt completely sober, she was aware of her surroundings, her situation and the sound of Brooke's soft sobbing. Haley preferred the realms of ignorant drunken bliss. Haley rose slowly and walked over to the counter. She couldn't quite bring herself to look Brooke in the eye; it felt too weird right then, but she did place a comforting hand on Brooke's. Chewing on her lip she tried to think of something good to say, reassuring yet firm. Focusing on her engagement ring Haley softly said, "Its okay Brooke. It's been a long night, I'll make some coffee and we can talk about this with clear heads." Happy with herself Haley gave Brooke's hand a reassuring squeeze and stepped around the counter to make the coffee. Brooke blinked once, then a second time as Haley's words left a hollowness deep down where the butterflies used to live. She looked up with her wet, tear stained face, lips parted in a gesture of incredulous disbelief. She knew exactly what Haley was trying to do and she wasn't going to settle for tutor girl's poor attempt at empathy.

"Is that it?" Brooke spat harshly causing Haley to face her abruptly, "You can just dismiss the one strongest, most painful feeling I have had to carry around for so damn long. Do you think I like this? Feeling vulnerable every time you're near me, hating myself for being a freak, wishing...just wishing I could find one guy to get you out of my head." Brooke's tears were in full flow again leaving Haley to do nothing but watch tight-throated and ring her hands like a child being told off. Brooke pushed herself off the counter and wiped at her eyes agitatedly, her anger filling the hollow inside her. "I don't need this crap TutorWife! I used to be fine before I knew you, didn't even dream I'd fall in love at that age of 17 before I met you, and after all the people I could have chosen my heart sets itself on you. It's not fair. "Brooke's last words were more of a sob then a sentence.

"Brooke...I'm getting married tomorrow." Brooke was surprised at the sadness in Haley's voice and suddenly saw a glimmer of hope for her amongst all the pain. But she had to go ruin it. "I'm in love with Nathan. Not you."

That hurt. It always did but the "not you" on the end just gave it a little kick, right to the heart. It brought out the bitch in her and despite the whole point of this confession she let it have its snide remark "Yeah, Nathan. He's a keeper that one."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Haley looked affronted but curious. Maybe she wasn't so blind after all but bitchy Brooke hadn't finished. Gritting her teeth in plain frustration at this girl's loveable, if infuriatingly blissful ignorance, Brooke let out the anger, the bitterness and all the desire.

"It's supposed to mean that your "perfect" man isn't so DAMN PERFECT!!" Haley glared defensively back at Brooke waiting for her to go on. "He's cheating on you! With Peyton."

Haley stood frozen for about five seconds before letting out a hard, short laugh. As soon as Brooke heard it she quickly regretted saying anything. Haley shook her head in disbelief, looking disgusted as she pointed to the front door. "Get out."

Brooke blinked and gaped at her best friend.

"Hale-

"NO. YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT BROOKE. HOW DARE YOU. WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO DO?! DESTROY MY RELATIONSHIP WITH DESPERATE LIES? HOW DARE YOU TELL ME YOU LOVE ME THE DAY BEFORE I'M ABOUT TO GET MARRIED." Haley stepped briskly around the kitchen counter and shoved her hand in front of Brooke's face. "See this? That's my future." Brooke stared glumly at the ring on Haley's finger and shifted uncomfortably. She looked down at her feet and closed her eyes.

"I know Hales. I know how much he means to you, and I was never going to bring this down on you but I saw him kissing Peyton and I thought this is my chance!" Brooke let out a whimper as Haley's palm connected with her cheek. Brooke touched the place Haley had hit her but the hurt expression and red mark she was boasting got no sympathy from the other Brunette.

"Get...out" Haley said through shaky breaths, just as shocked as Brooke was about her slapping her. Defeated down to her last ounce of emotional strength, Brooke walked slowly to the door and opened it with as much enthusiasm. She turned to see Haley watching her. She looked tearful and unstable; Brooke knew she would break down into tears as soon as she left. But wanting to have the last word Brooke cleared her throat and uttered with the most clarity she could manage, "So much for clothes ova bros, huh Hales?"

It was small, but Brooke was sure Haley had flinched at the mention of such a reminiscent memory. Satisfied she had done all she could, Brooke left her apartment, their apartment, and let the door close with a callous bang behind her.

-x-

She was walking, to where she had no clue. One foot followed the other and they lead her away from Haley and that was all she cared about in that moment and every other moment of absolute hopelessness and anguish. The wind whipped around her causing her hair to fly everywhere, the cold chill in the air bit at her savagely but Brooke didn't feel anything she was already numb from everything that had transpired in the early hours of the morning. She should have just kept her eyes closed and never taken that first step out of her bed; everything would be so different if she had. Everything would be fine...Haley's look of cold fury wouldn't be burned into her minds eye and Haley wouldn't hate her.

Looking up she took in her surroundings and gave a hollow laugh, it was just her luck that she ended up at the Rivercourt. The court was deserted, everyone no doubt getting ready for the wedding, or as Brooke liked to think of it 'The event that killed her.' But what could she do? She questioned silently while making her way over to the lone bench. Sitting on top of it she realised she couldn't do anything that she had already done. Telling the truth had gotten her a slap in the face and trying would only result in more.

Sighing, she let her head fall into her hands and closed her eyes. How could her life go from moderately liveable to disastrously awful in the space of 1.2 milliseconds? Was this a new record? Biting down on her lip hard she tried to keep the tears she felt pooling in her eyes from falling, but it was futile and one after another slipped passed her eyelids leaving behind a watery track of sorrow. This time she wasn't getting her happy ending, not that she expected to ever get it, but she could always dream of it. Now though...now there wasn't anything to dream about, she had opened her mouth and made her own grave, she just needed to find it so she could lay down in it and wait for the dirt to cover her whole.

A hand touched her shoulder and startled her out of her retrieve. Turning her head sharply to the side she took in Lucas' worried form. Sighing again, she turned her head away from him and let it fall again, the thumping of her heartbeat echoing in her ears, she was sure with each beat she heard the slower it got. Would there come a point where her heart would slow down so far that her last beat would sound and she would fall to the ground a hollow shell of who she once was? She was sure that point would be when Haley uttered the words 'I do' to Nathan. That would be the one last thing before she fell to her hell.

"Are you okay Brooke?" Lucas's voice asked her and the concern shone through. She was glad she had a friend in Luc, they were so much better as friends than they ever were as a couple. The incident with Chris Keller was the nail in their coffin, it showed her the truth and in a way she had hoped that Lucas caught them because that way there was no way of them having a lasting relationship. They had talked, shouted a little and agreed that friends they were good at, anything more just got complicated.

"Just peachy." Brooke sounded out her voice void of any sort of feeling.

"You know," Lucas sounded out sitting next to Brooke. "I know peachy and this just isn't it."

"Really, I'm fine." Who knew she was so adapt at lying these day and Lucas's dubious look told her that he wasn't buying 'Fine' one little bit. She didn't want to tell him, couldn't face the look of disappointment sweep across someone else's face, knowing it was solely directed at her. But it was starting to hurt keeping it to herself and maybe Lucas wouldn't look at her like Haley had, maybe she could get one more day if she had a shoulder to rest her head on. "It's Haley." She whispered brokenly.

Lucas looked down at Brooke in confusion, had something happened to Haley and he hadn't been there to help her? Was she all right? "What's the matter with Haley?" he questioned more than a little anxiously.

Looking out Brooke saw the light creep into the new day washing away the sins of the days passed and couldn't help wish that it'd wash over her and remove everything that had gone wrong in her life, giving her a fresh start at life again. It was a deluded hope, but she was grasping now. "I think I ruined her happy day." Brooke mumbled out into the eerily empty atmosphere.

Laughing Lucas looked down at Brooke like she was suddenly some other recantation. "No one can ruin Haley's day Brooke, it's not possible." Lucas let her know with a soft smile. "What's the worst you could do?"

"I told her I loved her."

Seems those words cause silence all over the place. Brooke was seconds away from standing up and leaving Lucas behind, maybe she could pack a bag and just leave town with no fuss. Then she could bury the pain somewhere in the back of her mind and not have to remember it until she was alone staring into the darkness. The darkness would hide her pain and tears after all and she wasn't sure she could face looking into the mirror and having that reflect back at her. But luckily Lucas spoke up, "...Wow..."

Okay it wasn't the height of sophisticated conversation but it was something. Brooke turned to study Lucas in a bored fashion, to be honest she didn't care which way he went with this. She was beyond the guilty conscience; she'd taken it down from its pedestal and beaten seven shades of shit out of it. Lucas looked like he'd been put on pause, the only indication he was alive being the faint fog of carbon dioxide leaving his gaping mouth every few seconds. "...wow..."

"You already said that Luke."

"I know...it's just...Haley? You're in love with Haley?" he asked firmly as if trying to work around the idea of such a bizarre concept. Brooke blinked slowly and nodded. "Tutor girl Haley? My best friend Haley-"

"Yes okay! God I get it alright? It's insane! It's completely impossible that Brooke Davis could fall in love with a girl! She must have been through every guy, no wonder she's gone gay!!!" Brooke was on her feet and pacing angrily and aimlessly around the court. Lucas had gotten off the bench and approached her, taking her gently by the shoulders so she was facing him. Tears were brimming at the corners of her eyes once again, betraying the anger flared over her features. "I can't help how I feel." Brooke practically whimpered, her resolve breaking in front of Lucas as she stamped her foot like a frustrated toddler. The sadness etched over every inch of her face told Luke this wasn't just a one off crush. This was the real deal and it broke his heart to see the girl he once loved so much look so hopeless. Brooke was looking up at him expectantly, probably waiting for the words that would make this all better, but for the sake of him Lucas couldn't think of anything. This whole turn of events put him in the thick of a very personal love triangle. There was Haley his long time best friend and the girl he would do anything for, Brooke the girl he had loved and lost more than once through faults of his own. Yet despite their history they were still close friends and Brooke was another person he would sacrifice his life for willingly. Then of course there was Nathan, his own flesh and blood. It was literally impossible for him to take sides because no matter what way he looked at it someone he cared about stood to get hurt.

Realising he had to say something before Brooke began to worry he was freaking out, Lucas said, "I take it she didn't take it well if you're moping around the river court looking like a lost puppy."

It made Brooke smile and that meant she hadn't reached the point of no return. Lucas smiled back warmly and rubbed her shoulders. Brooke shook her head once and frowned slightly.

"She literally exploded on me. I've never seen her angry before Luke. I touched on places I shouldn't have- not like that perv!" she cut in at the wide eyed stare Lucas had given her. He rolled his eyes and waited for her to continue. "Like I said, I touched on some issues I shouldn't have...set off a few nerves. I only wanted to confess how I felt! I couldn't keep it in anymore it was driving me insane! I know it was the worst time to tell her but I don't think I could have been her bridesmaid without her knowing the truth at least." Brooke finished her explanation and looked down at her feet. She'd chosen to leave out the tiny incident that occurred with his brother just last night.

"But you love her..." Lucas pointed out the obvious his voice trailing off at the end like he was thinking something so profound that when he finally spoke every problem on earth would be solved. But of course Brooke didn't take that into account and looked at him like he had clearly lost his mind.

Frowning and glaring Brooke sighed. "Of course I love her stupid!" she breathed out exasperatedly. "Haven't you been listening?"

"Yeah Brooke, I've been listening." Lucas let her know opening his mouth to carry on, but Brooke beat him to it.

"It's weird you know, you can see a person everyday of your life and they're there in the background and slowly without you even realising it, without you giving it a second thought they work their way to the foreground. Then suddenly you notice them more so than you ever did before and then they do something and you find your thinking about that later, after it's happened and..." Brooke breathed out and Lucas noticed that she was lost in her own world. "...everyday you can't help but look at them differently and notice things about them, like the way they smile or how when they're concentrating they chew on the end of their pen. You notice all their quirks and before long it's too late, you're gone, you've fallen...you're in love. And you didn't even see it coming."

"And that's how you feel about Haley." Lucas once again stated the obvious, like the sky is blue, the grass is green and clouds are white….unless of course you were colour blind and that's a whole other story. He watched Brooke nod in agreement and he smiled at her. "So why aren't you fighting for her?"

He watched as Brooke opened her mouth to answer him, but she stalled and no words left her. Watching her for a second he waited for the inevitable, he waited for her to try, he waited for her to become the Brooke Davis who never gave up and from the looks of it, she was fast approaching.

"You're right." She agreed again, her voice strong with conviction. "Why aren't I?" she questioned herself and maybe she shouldn't have because the Nathan and Peyton saga of the night previous corrupted her vision and Haley's look of utter shock was fast approaching afterwards.

Lucas was right she should be fighting for Haley, especially after what Nathan was doing, but – and there always seemed to be a but – rejection wasn't fun.

"Don't back out of this now Davis. You want Haley? You at least gotta give it a try. Sure you already did and it bombed like nothing you have ever tried with all your heart, but come on Brooke when have you ever given up so easily?" Lucas questioned her, his hand reaching out for hers. "I'll take you to the church right now. All you have to do is take my hand."

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't doubtful, that if she turned her back and walked away he wouldn't be surprised. He didn't know if she could walk away from someone she claimed to love and maybe he'd never know. But as he was thinking those thoughts her hand slipped into his and he knew her answer.

She was ready to fight.

A.N: Please review. Life is not worth living without the precious reviews you guys send. It's a life with out sunshine, guys, it's a world without love! So love me already! Even though I'm a guy and I'm pretty sure most of you are teenager lesbians...yeah. LOVE!

TGT: Whispers Needy much...