Hey guys, first of all let me apologize profusely for the length between updates. I've been having issues with ideas and college c/w stuff. I also went to New York for a month, so didn't get a chance to update while I was there. I hope you're all well and thanks so much to those who reviewed. Can I take this opportunity to encourage people to review, it will speed up the updates!

Sophi20- thanks very much for all your reviews, I'm really glad you're enjoying the characters and the story!

Tiger87- thanks for your reviews, it means a lot that you're sticking with the fic and still enjoying it.

So, on with it!

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Lucas strolled over to Peyton at the food bar, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her on the cheek.

"Hey you" she said as she smiled up at him, "what's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to pick your brains about something if you've got a spare minute?"

"Uh sure, what is it?" asked Peyton, wondering what her boyfriend was talking about as he guided her over to a sofa by the bar.

"Have you noticed anything weird.. uhh… lately. Between Brooke and Hales?"

Peyton's eyes widened for a split second but that was all Lucas needed.

"You have! What do you know? We need to gather our thoughts together and figure something out."

"I… tell me what you know. I made a promise so until I can tell whether you know something, I cant tell you anything. So spill."

"Well I've just been noticing the looks they keep giving each other. It makes me think there's something going on between them. I think they have crushes on each other. I know it sounds a little out of the blue… or does it. Am I on the right track here?"

"Oh you do know! Brooke told me last night, and this does not leave this ugly faux wood bench, that she has a crush on Haley! We're doing a test as we speak to see if I think Haley feels the same way. I think she might, they were giving each other looks at the sleepover, and they're suddenly so close… while we're doing the test, you should see if you can get Haley to confess."

--

Meanwhile, on the lanes, Nathan had gone to get snacks, and Haley and Brooke were left alone.

"So this is fun. It was a good idea to all get together, huh?" said Brooke, desperate to avoid an awkward silence. She didn't want Haley to feel weird around her.

"Yeah totally, it was a great idea, though I can't help feeling it's going to end up as a massive competition between Nathan and Lucas, as usual" Haley chattered, picking up a bowling ball that was clearly heavier than she could handle. Brooke jumped up and grabbed Haley as she began to tip and nearly dropped the ball.

"Watch yourself there Hales, you're only little", she giggled, holding Haley by the waist. "You okay?"

Haley nodded, "yeah, but I kinda hurt my wrist…" she said, pouting. Brooke sat her down, a worried look on her face.

"Where, which wrist?"

Haley held up her right arm to Brooke, who took her forearm gently in her hands, inspecting the wrist carefully. She touched it gently, and Haley winced.

"Oh honey, I think you sprained it…" said Brooke, tenderly lifting Haley's wrist and kissing it softly, giving her the sweetest, most dimple filled smile she had ever seen. Haley's heart was going a mile a minute as she blushed, and smiled back. "Any better?" Brooke asked, but before Haley could answer, Nathan, Lucas and Peyton were back.

"Hales, have you not bowled yet? What the heck were you doing!" Nathan asked.

Brooke looked over at Peyton and grinned.

--

"So what do you think?" Brooke asked Peyton as they were sitting on Peyton's bed the next morning.

"Oh, I am one hundred per cent sure she likes you back", said Peyton confidently.

"Really?" asked Brooke, worriedly, "that's a hundred per cent out of one hundred, right?"

Peyton laughed and nodded sarcastically, "Yes Brooke, a hundred out of a hundred."

"Well… what do I do now? Do I tell her, do I wait for it to happen? I mean, there was a lot of tension at the bowling alley, I definitely felt something there. I'm going over to take her to the doctor later to see if her wrist is okay, should I tell her then, or what? Oh god, I'm freaking out, I'm no good at this."

Little did Brooke know, Haley was about to ask Lucas the same thing, after spilling the beans just seconds before.

"Oh, I just knew it, I knew something was going on! I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner, Hales! How long have you known you liked her?" Lucas asked his friend, feeling very glad Haley hadn't waited any longer to tell him about her feelings for Brooke, especially after his discovery with Peyton the night before.

"A little while now, but I really started to notice it the night that Brooke and I had that sleep over with Peyton. What should I do?"

"I don't think I'm really the best person to ask Hales. Cause I had feelings for her before, and all that. Just… be careful, okay. I don't want you to get hurt."

Haley's phone started to ring, and when she saw it was Brooke calling, a huge grin spread across her face. Lucas smiled at this and waved goodbye. He was off to re-group with Peyton and discuss their friend's situations. Haley threw herself on to her bed as she answered her phone.

"Hey Brooke, what's up?"

"Just calling to check on you Tutor Girl, we got that doctor's appointment in half an hour, shall I come over now to pick you up?" asked the cheerleader, smiling at the sound of Haley's voice. I'm suck a sucker for her, she thought to herself.

"You know, you don't have to come with me, right?"

"Yeah I know, but I want to. I… you…" Brooke, stuttered, for the first time in 14 years, trying to decide whether to bear her soul or just shut the hell up. She sided with the latter. "Oh just accept the ride will you?" she said. She makes me so nervous, I turn into a wreck whenever I'm near her. And evidently, whenever I talk to her, too.

"Okay, okay" Haley giggled, noticing Brooke's less than cool demeanour. "I'll see you in a bit then?" she asked. She heard a knock at the door and got up to answer it. "Hold on Brooke, I think Lucas is paying me a surprise visit" she said, but when she opened the door, it was not Lucas, and, being caught off guard, Haley was not prepared for the sight that was in front of her.

"Hey Tutor Girl, sorry to disappoint, its me, not Lucas" said Brooke, hanging up her phone and grinning. Her make up was more natural look, as opposed to the dramatic sexy smouldering look she usually preferred, wearing a short summer dress, her hair pulled up loosely, and gold hoop earrings. Haley thought she couldn't look any more beautiful.

Oh yeah, definitely crushing. Haley took a deep breath and mustered up a smile to replace the slightly slack jawed face she was sporting. Brooke decided to do a little flirting, and went to walk through the doorway into the house, sliding right up against Haley who felt an electric jolt which brought her back from her daze.

"H…Hi Brooke. Wha… what're you doing here so soon?"

"I called you on my way over here tutor girl. Everything okay? You're looking a little… flushed" she smirked, and Haley totally knew what she was doing. And she was so playing that game.

OK, hope you all enjoyed this update, I now have a backlog of about 3 chapters, so I will be posting the next right after Christmas. PLEASE review, it really does speed everything up, as well as being helpful with making me write more, faster. Thanks for sticking with the story, especially consider I've been such a twat with updating. Merry Christmas to everyone!