Chapter 17:
"Haley." A voice said into Haley's ear as she peered into her locker. Haley turned around and found Brooke looking at her with an earnest expression on her face. "Hi."
"Oh. Brooke."
"Haley, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you by going out with Nathan. I want you to know that. I never wanted to do to you what Peyton did to me."
"Brooke…"
"No wait. I want to say this. I need to say this. I went out with Nathan after the one time you found out about. We were…kind of…dating, I guess. But he broke up with me for you, he didn't want to give up on you."
"I know."
"You…do?" Brooke said, confused.
Haley shut her locker and faced Brooke. "Yeah. I guess I always did. I also know that there's something about you guys that just…works. Maybe that was why I was so mad, I just didn't want to admit that to myself."
"Haley, I…"
"No, now it's my turn. I can see the way he looks at you, and even the way he talks about you. He wants to be with you, he just doesn't know it yet."
"Oh." Brooke was in shock.
"So I guess this means the end of me and him."
"Haley don't, I won't even talk to him ever again if you don't want me to. I would rather have your friendship any day."
"I appreciate that Brooke, I really do. But this is right. I can feel it."
"Thank you, Haley. You don't know how much this means to me."
"I think I do. And you don't know how much it means to me that you were willing to let him go, for me, to give us a chance again. And I'm sorry I snapped at you, it wasn't your fault, the person I was really mad at was him."
"Do you know how great you are, Haley?"
Haley laughed, "I think I do."
Brooke's smiled turned into a look of horror, "I have to go. I have to find him, and fix something. Last time we talked, I said some things that were not very nice."
"Well then, get going! These things don't come around that often, you have to grab them when you can."
"I love you, Haley." Brooke pulled her into a hug, "Wish me luck!"