Chapter 16:
"Brooke!" Nathan ran to catch up with her as she walked through the parking lot.
She looked around for a minute to find the voice that was calling her, "Oh, hey, Nathan." She looked at him slightly guiltily. According to Rachel, she was supposed to have talked to Nathan in the library today, but instead, she had gone to the other end of the school just to avoid him.
"What's up? We haven't talked much since…well.."
"I know."
"Um..no new boyfriend? That's not like you."
"Yeah, I just haven't been out lately." They were both silent for a moment, then Brooke spoke again, "Can we just go back to how it was? To how it was before, when there was nothing between us? Because I feel like…I don't know how I feel. You and me, us, it confused me so much. I mean, after Lucas, I never thought that...I could ever…"
"Brooke, what are you saying?"
"How can we keep doing this, you know? I mean, we hid our relationship, and now…I don't want to hide anymore."
"No one's hiding."
"Yes, they are, Nathan, you are. You didn't tell Haley about us, did you?"
"No, but that's not because I'm hiding."
"Then why? Why can't we tell people? Why can't I say, yes, I was with Nathan Scott, and yes, I did feel something for him."
"Because of Haley."
"You knew Haley would never take you back if she knew about us, right? Haley's my friend, and I love her, I don't want to keep secrets from her."
"I don't want to tell her because I don't want to hurt her."
"She's going to get hurt, no matter what. You're going to have to tell her sometime. I'd rather do it now, when it will hurt less."
"Why now, Brooke?"
"I'm tired. I'm tired of secrets, and I'm tired of hurting. Nathan, I really thought we could have something. But you're just like your brother, aren't you? You just want the girl who's most convenient to you. So I'm going to tell Haley, whether you like it or not. She'll forgive me way before she forgives you."