Looking For Solid Ground

++++++++OTH++++++++


"Ok, so, you ready?" Haley asked, handing Brooke a plate full of pancakes.

Brooke looked up at her nervously.

"Brooke?"

Her face was pale.

"Brooke, babe, you gotta breathe," Haley reminded her.

Brooke took in a deep breath, and Haley laughed in relief.

"I thought I had lost you there."

"Sorry," Brooke mumbled, attempting to cut her pancakes with a shaky hand.

"Let me," Haley said, taking the knife carefully from Brooke and cutting her pancakes for her. "What's up with you anyway? I'm normally the one going crazy with worry about tests, not you."

"I'm not ready."

"Brooke, you're ready," Haley assured her, giving her her plate back.

"I don't know why I thought I could do this. I can't pull of a B on a trig final. It's impossible."

"It's not impossible."

"Why did I wait so long to worry about this? Now I'm going to have to repeat this year, and I'm going to lose my fashion contract, and I'm gonna lose you because you're way too smart to be seen with a loser, and--"

Brooke was caught off guard as Haley climbed onto her lap and planted a sweet kiss on her lips.

"You're not going to lose me," she smiled.

"But--"

"And you're not going to fail," Haley continued, bringing a soft hand to Brooke's cheek. "You are so ready for this test. You're going to kick it's butt from here to Japan and back again."

Brooke let out a slight giggle, and leaned into Haley's touch, "Thank you."

Haley shrugged, "That's what I'm here for."

"Well," Brooke smiled, wrapping her arms around Haley, "I guess I'll just have to keep you around then."

"I don't know..." Haley teased.

Brooke pulled her into a deep kiss.

Haley pulled away just enough to speak, a smile playing on her lips, "I think we can work something out."

"Yea," Brooke breathed, closing the mere centimeters that separated their lips.


++++++++OTH++++++++


Brooke looked down at the first question.

"Ok," she thought to herself. "Tangent. Haley and I went over this..."

Haley had been wearing her low rise jeans and a simple white tank top with her hair pulled back in a messy bun and two curls framing her face--to say she looked amazing would have been a severe understatement. Her back was to the window, and the sun gave the slightest illusion of her having a halo. Halo...God Haley's voice was amazing on that song. She could just sit and listen to her sing for hours, although Haley hated it when Brooke listened to her sing. She said Brooke made her nervous.

"Ok," Brooke thought. "Focus."

At first, she had been sitting next to Haley, but Haley had asked her to move because Brooke was finding it extremely difficult to concentrate as she felt Haley's arm brush against hers, as the tempting scent of vanilla surrounded her. So, Brooke moved to across the table to keep some distance between to two of them. That's when Haley had starting talking about tangents, but what did she say? Brooke remembered Haley leaning over the table to point something out in Brooke's book. Brooke could just barely see over the top of Haley's shirt. She bit her lip as she suddenly found herself growing rather warm.

"And Tangent is opposite over adjacent," Haley explained. "See, opposite being directly across from the angle, and adjacent being right next to it."

"I don't know," Brooke smiled, flashing dimples. "Being across and right next to, both seem pretty good to me."

Brooke smiled to herself as she worked out the problem, trying to hide the flushed look of her cheeks. Well, if anything, this test would be very interesting.


+++++++++++OTH+++++++++


"Ok, everyone. Pencils down," the teacher commanded. "Make sure your name is on the paper and pass it up to the front."

Brooke passed her paper up with a smile. She had no idea how well she had done. She could have completely bombed for all she knew, but all she cared about at that moment was finding Haley. She grabbed her book bag and hurried out the classroom. She saw Haley at her locker, talking to Peyton, and Brooke could feel the heat returning to her face.

"Excuse us," Brooke said to Peyton with a quick smile, as she hooked an arm through Haley's and ushered her down the hall. They turned the corner into another relatively empty hall, and Brooke pushed Haley into the janitor's closet, closing the door behind them. Brooke didn't even bother with the lights as she reached out, her hands finding Haley's hips. She pulled the smaller girl close, her lips missing their target the first time, but the second time they found success. Sweet success.

Brooke ran a hand through Haley's hair, tugging slightly to make her tilt her head back as Brooke's tongue began to explore the back of Haley's mouth. Brooke let out a low moan as Haley finally caught her bearings and began to kiss her back. Haley leaned up on her toes, pushing back, trying to match the aggression of the kiss she was receiving. Brooke was forced to take a step back, surprised by the intensity that Haley was bringing.

Brooke felt something hit the back of her leg, and suddenly felt herself falling back. Her hand reached out, grasping for something to steady herself, but found nothing, and she soon felt herself landing flat on her butt on the ground with a giggling Haley in tow.

"God I love this closet," Haley smiled, her voice raspy.

"What happened to you being the clumsy one?" Brooke laughed, her own naturally raspy voice coming out even more hoarse than usual.

"So," Haley breathed, trying to control her breathing. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Brooke smiled at the small girl in her lap that was playing with the hem of her shirt. Every now and then Haley's fingers would barely graze Brooke's stomach, sending happy chills down Brooke's spine.

"I just couldn't get you out of my mind, and I realized that I just had to have you now," Brooke replied honestly.

"Baby," Haley smiled, her voice still low and raspy as she scooted even closer to Brooke. "You can have me anytime you want."

"Dear God girl," Brooke croaked, their noses practically touching as she looked into Haley's glazed over eyes, her own now adjusted to the darkness. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

"If it's anything like what you do to me, then you are one lucky girl."

Brooke reached forward, capturing Haley's lips in her own, her hands holding on to the smaller girl's hips to keep her from falling back.

The two broke apart only when air became an issue of surviving.

"So how was your test?" Haley asked with a smile after catching her breath.

"Way to kill the mood," Brooke teased.

"Sorry," she laughed. "It's just how I am."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Brooke replied, kissing Haley's nose, which earned a giggle from the girl in her lap.

Haley sighed, leaning back, placing her hands behind her for support, "So I'm growing rather fond of this closet."

"Yea, maybe it can be our spot," Brooke said, wiggling her eyebrows.

"A janitor's closet?"

"Why not? We have had some of our hottest make out sessions in here," Brooke pointed out.

Haley rolled her eyes, "How can we have a spot if we don't even have a song?"

Brooke furrowed her brow in thought before a smile came over her face, "I got it!"

"What?"

"That song you were singing."

"What song?"

"The one before we had our first make out session in here. Remember, you were walking from your locker, singing this incredibly hot song, and I grabbed you and pulled you in here. Back when you moved out...oh, you remember," Brooke insisted.

"I remember the session," Haley smiled. "But the song...oh goodness. You mean Crimson and Clover?"

Brooke nodded, "Yes, that's it."

"Brooke, you can't be serious. That's not a love song."

"Why not? It's one of my fondest memories of us--our first make up after our first fight."

"Brooke," Haley sighed. "Be serious."

"I am," she insisted. "And wow, that part when you were like...'I'm not such a sweet thing,' yea, that one, that was so...there aren't words to describe it."

Haley felt herself blushing and hoped there was enough darkness to mask it.

"I know you're blushing," Brooke said, reading her thoughts.

"Screw you," Haley laughed.

"You see," Brooke smiled. "You keep promising me these things, and I keep getting my hopes up just to get them slammed down again."

Haley pushed her playfully, "Nerd."

Brooke laughed, taking Haley's hand in her own.

"So," Haley smiled as Brooke played with her fingers. "Crimson and Clover is our song?"

"Yep."

"And a janitor's closet is our spot?"

"Yep."

Haley shook her head, "We never were a normal couple were we?"

"Nope," Brooke beamed.

"So why start now?" Haley sighed in defeat.

"Yay!" Brooke squealed in excitement. "You are so my favorite person in the world!"

"Excuse me?"

"Well not that you weren't before, but now you even beat out yourself."

Haley laughed at her girlfriend who was bouncing with excitement, glad she was able to make her happy, even if it was over something as silly as a song and a spot. It was all worth it to be able to see those beautiful dimples.

"Well Tigger, we had better get going," she smiled, standing up and offering her a hand.

Brooke took it as she stood.

"What's gonna happen when we don't come to school here anymore?" Brooke asked as they walked out of the janitor's closet when nobody was looking.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, tomorrow's our last day here. Then next week, we graduate--hopefully--then it's summer, and we go on with our lives."

"And?"

"How are we going to come back to our spot?" she asked.

Haley grinned, "Brooke, it's not like you haven't broken into the school before."

"Yea, but now it would be so much more illegal than before."

Haley turned to her with a mischievous glint in her eye, "Which makes it all the more fun."

"Ooo," Brooke smiled as Haley walked away, aware of Brooke's eyes on her. "Rebellious Haley...nice."


+++++OTH+++++++


"So..." Peyton smiled as they were all sitting around a table in the courtyard the next morning. "Who's nervous?"

"Nervous? Please, if I don't pass, I'll just take it over again...next year," Brooke replied sarcastically, making everyone laugh.

"You're going to pass," Haley reassured her, giving her hand a secret squeeze under the table. Brooke held on to her hand as she tried to pull away, and laced her fingers through Haley’s, making the tutor smile.

"What about you Haley?" Lucas asked. "Are you worried? I mean, being valedictorian has been like your dream since forever."

"Thanks for reminding me Luke. I appreciate it, really."

Brooke laughed, rubbing a soothing thumb over her hand. "Don't listen to him; he's just being a butt head."

Lucas stuck out his tongue, and Brooke did the same.

"I'm gonna miss this," Peyton commented.

"Ugh-uh. No way. It's too early to be getting all sentimental and crap," Brooke replied.

"No, she's right," Lucas smile, taking Peyton's hand in his own, as Brooke placed her hand teasingly on Haley's knee. "I'm so happy we could make it here together you know?"

Haley nodded, unable to speak as Brooke's hand slowly made its way up her leg.

"I can't believe we almost were torn apart by me hiding some stupid secret you know?" Lucas continued.

Haley smiled through clenched teeth as she struggled to keep her breath steady. Brooke just smiled innocently.

"It's like if we can't tell each other everything, then what kind of friends are we, you know? I can't believe I almost ruined it over something as stupid as not telling you I called Nathan."

Lucas's words settled on Brooke and Haley suddenly and heavily. What kind of friends were they being, keeping their relationship from their two best friends? Haley frowned, and Brooke froze, her hand hadn't moved, and was still burning Haley's skin through her jeans, but the rush of blood was replaced by a rush of guilt.

"I have to go," she said suddenly. Brooke quickly removed her hand as Haley stood up. She watched nervously as her girlfriend hurried away from the table. Not sure if she should follow her or not.

"What was that about?" Peyton asked.

"Oh, you know her. She's just worried about her grades, that's all," Brooke lied.

"Maybe I should go check on her," Lucas said, starting to stand, but Brooke stopped him.

"No, I think it's best if I do," she said.

Lucas looked at her curiously.

"Trust me," she smiled sadly, grabbing her books and walking away from the table.

+++++++++++

"So," Brooke sighed, moving a bucket to sit against the wall next to Haley in the closet. "I guess it's just you, me, and this giant giraffe in the room."

"Elephant," Haley corrected.

"What?"

"It's a giant elephant in the room."

"Hun, you've known me for how long? And you still expect me to get those crazy sayings right?"

Haley giggled, allowing Brooke to wrap an arm around her.

"So, let me guess," Brooke said as Haley snuggled into her. "You're feeling guilty about not telling Lucas about us."

"Aren't you?"

"Yea," she sighed. "But it's been so great, you know? You and I in our own little world, with no one to..." she let her voice trail off.

"Judge us?" Haley offered. "Criticize us?"

Brooke bit her lip, not wanting to think about it.

"You know I'm right," Haley whispered, quietly. "But you know what? I can deal with all that as long as you're there with me."

Brooke looked down at her lap; she could see everything she had worked so hard for while in high school slipping away.

Haley lifted her head with a finger under her chin, "You're with me, right?"

Brooke could see the old self-conscious Haley returning as she looked into her deep brown eyes, and she silently cursed herself, for making Haley question what they had.

"Of course I am," she replied, pulling Haley onto her lap. She kissed the top of her head, lingering a moment. "You can't get rid of me that easy."

"So..." Haley sighed, leaning back into Brooke.

Brooke wrapped her arms around Haley's tiny waist, "So when?"

"Yea."

"How about we get through today first?"

"You nervous?"

"No, why would I be nervous? I mean, it's not like if I don't make a certain grade I won't graduate or anything."

"Sarcastic much?" Haley teased, playing with Brooke's fingers.

Brooke smiled, watching her. She was the most adorable thing in the world, and she was in her arms. Seriously, how lucky could one girl get?

"Sorry, I'm kind of nervous," Brooke laughed. "I don't know why though. I mean, I did have this really amazing tutor."

"Maybe if you would have spent looking at the book instead of down my shirt, you wouldn't be as nervous."

Brooke felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks, "You saw that?"

"You were kind of obvious."

"Well," Brooke smirked, tightening her arms around Haley. She leaned down so her mouth was right next to her ear, her hot breath sending chills down her spine while her lips tickled her. "You weren't complaining yesterday when we were in here."

Realization dawned on Haley, "That's what that was about? I was wondering what had you all hot and bothered."

"You," Brooke replied, heavily. "It's always you."

She pushed Haley's hair aside, kissing the side of her neck.

"Mmm, baby, don't start something you can't finish," Haley breathed.

"Who said I can't finish?"

"Me. The grades will be posted any minute now."

Brooke groaned, "Damn you and your know-it-allness."

"My know-it-allness?" Haley questioned with a giggle, standing up. She offered Brooke a hand.

Brooke took it, drawing herself up, close to Haley, "Don't tease me."

"Me?" Haley questioned, placing her fingertips on the slight space of skin showing between Brooke's jeans and shirt. "I would never tease you."

"Oh, you're good," Brooke smiled, leaning down to kiss her.