Looking For Solid Ground

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





Haley was pacing around the apartment nervously. It was a miracle that she hadn't walked a hole straight through the floor yet. She wasn't sure what to think. It was nearly 11 that morning and still no word from Brooke. That had to mean a good thing right? If something had gone wrong, surely Brooke would have called or come back home. Unless, something Peyton said made her change her mind, made her see just how much of a mistake being with Haley was.



There was a sudden, urgent knock on the door, and Haley nearly tripped over her own feet in shock. She nervously made her way to the door, when it opened on its own accord. She froze as the blonde walked into the house with a fierce look. Haley couldn't bear to look her in the eyes. She gazed down at the floor, struggling to hold in the tears. She could feel the disappointment radiating off of Peyton.



"Haley."



She wrung her hands nervously.



"Haley, look at me."



Haley looked up. Peyton was still standing in the doorway with a raised eyebrow, as if asking a question.



"So..." Haley laughed nervously.



Peyton broke into a smile, not being able to hold it back much longer. She opened her arms to Haley who rushed into them, gratefully accepting the hug.



"Thank you," was all Haley could say. Tears of relief were swimming in her eyes as she pulled away.



Brooke walked through the door, a smile on her face, having watched the whole scene. She held out an arm, and Haley walked into her, wrapping her arms around her. Brooke smiled, doing the same, and kissing the top of her head. Peyton couldn't help but smile as she watched the couple, seeing how happy they were together.



"So what's for lunch?" Haley asked, still in Brooke's arms. The other two girls laughed.



"Karen's?" Brooke offered.



"Sounds good."



"I'm driving," Peyton said.



"Uhh, I want to get there alive," Haley smiled.



"Cute."



"Yea, she is," Brooke said, smiling down at Haley.



"Yea, ok, corny much?" Peyton laughed, walking out the apartment.



"You have no idea," Haley replied, locking the door behind them.





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





"I was beginning to think you wouldn't remember," Lucas smiled as Haley walked up to him. He had been shooting around at the river court.



"How could I forget?" she asked.



Lucas held out a small box, and Haley held out a rectangular one.



Haley opened the small box and gasped, "Lucas!"



He smiled, knowing she would love it. Haley pulled out the bracelet that was made of a simple leather band that ran through a tiny hole in a guitar pick.



"Where did you get this?" she asked.



He shrugged, "I have my ways."



Haley felt the tears spring to her eyes as she saw her signature on one side of the pick. On the other, the date of her first show on tour. It was her guitar pick from that show. She had thrown it into the crowd afterwards, and how Lucas had gotten a hold of it was beyond her.



"Happy graduation," he smiled proudly, knowing that he had done well at the sight of the happy tears in her eyes.



"Well, open yours," she said excitedly, as she wiped the tears away.



Lucas opened it and felt his heart well with pride.



"Is this?" he asked, taking out the black and white photograph.



"Yep," Haley said, the tears returning. "That's your nephew. I thought you'd want to have it."



"Oh, Hales," he smiled sadly, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you."



"Look at us," she laughed through the tears. "It's the night before graduation dress rehearsals. We should be celebrating, not crying."



"And how do you want to celebrate?" Lucas asked.



"By hanging out with you, duh," she replied rolling her eyes, but in truth she had been missing her Luke time.



"So, you got the sleeping bags?" he asked.



"Yep."



"And scrabble?"



"Yep."



"And..."



"Luke, you act like this is our first time," she laughed. "Now shut up, and help me unload Brooke's car."



"She actually let you borrow it?"



"How else would I have gotten everything over here? It's not like my mom could drop me off."



"She must really trust you," he commented.



"Yea," she laughed nervously.





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





"So, what do we have to read tonight?" Lucas asked. They had already played several rounds of scrabble which ended in the two of them throwing the tiles at each other over a dispute of over a word and were now in their sleeping bags, looking up at the stars. Haley was lying next to Lucas, her head on his shoulder when she handed him the book.



"A Tale of Two Cities? Nice choice," Lucas nodded. He took out the flashlight and cleared his throat. "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times..."



Haley sighed, listening to the sound of Lucas's voice. This had been a past time of theirs since they were little--him reading to her. It was funny, she had so many siblings, but her favorite one wasn't even blood related to her.



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



"Haley?" Lucas asked softly. "You still awake?"



"Yea," she replied, her voice just as soft as his.



"What are you doing?"



"Thinking."



"About?"



Haley took a shaky nervous breath, if she didn't do this now, she would lose the courage forever.



"Luke, can we talk?"



"Of course," he replied, wrapping an arm around her, sensing her uneasiness. "You know that."



"Ok, but, before I say this, just know that I love you, and you will always be my best friend, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you."



"Hales, you're starting to scare me," he laughed, sitting up in the sleeping bag.



"I met someone," she said with her eyes closed tight, feeling his eyes looking down at her.



"Who is he?"



"Well, technically, I didn't just meet someone. I'm actually kind of dating someone."



"Haley?"



"Honestly, I think I'm falling for this someone," she continued, as if not hearing him.



Lucas sighed, taking her arms, and lifting her up into a sitting position so that they were facing each other.



"Haley, open your eyes," he said softly.



She opened one eye, and squinted at him.



"Haley," he laughed. She opened both eyes and looked at him nervously.



"What's his name?"



Haley shrugged.



"Come on, Hales. I mean, you dated my brother. Who at the time was also my worst enemy. What can be worse than that?"



"Your ex-girlfriend," she whispered, so softly, that if her lips hadn't moved, Lucas would have shrugged it off as just the wind.



"Huh?" he questioned.



Haley sighed, "Your ex-girlfriend."



"My ex-girlfriend?" Lucas questioned. "Brooke?"



Haley nodded.



"What does Brooke have to do with your new boyfriend?" he asked, confusedly. "Does she have some long lost half-brother as well?"



"No," she replied quietly. "Lucas, Brooke is my...I'm dating...we're..."



Lucas's face fell as realization came over him, "What?"



"Lu--"



"No," he said, standing up quickly. "Tell me this is some kind of sick joke. Tell me you're lying. Tell me--"



"I'm falling in love with her," Haley said honestly.



"But you can't, she's a...you're a..." Lucas started to pace the court. "I don't get this Haley. You're a girl. You're straight. You were married for Christ's sake!"



Haley winced. She had known this wasn't going to turn out good.



"Luke, please calm down," she begged as she stood up, tears forming in her eyes.



"Calm down? Calm down?! My best friend, who I've known practically my whole life, just told me she's a lesbian! And not just any lesbian, no, one that's dating my ex-girlfriend. A girl, who might I add, made your life a living hell growing up!"



"Look, I didn't expect you to be happy, but try to understand. Peyton does--"



"Peyton? Peyton knows?"



"Yea, Brooke told her the other night."



"What? One of my girlfriends wasn't enough, now you're trying to turn the other one too?"



"Lucas!"



"No, Haley, this isn't right!" he was still pacing, running a shaky hand through his hair.



"What's not right about it? You can't help who you fall in love with, Luke. You know that," she replied firmly.



"No, this, this isn't love. This is...I don't know what it is, but it's not love."



"How do you know?" she asked, getting some of her courage back. "How would you know if you don't even give us a chance?"



"Us?" Lucas looked at her incredulously. "Us? How long has there been an us?"



"For a few weeks now," she shrugged.



"And have you....I mean..." he looked at her expectantly, the rolled his eyes.”Who am I kidding? Of course you have. This is Brooke we're talking about here. I mean she is the resident whore!"



Haley slapped him square across his face, "Don't you ever talk about her like that again. Do you hear me?"



Lucas brought a hand up to his cheek, his eyes narrowing, "We're through."



"Fine with me," she replied, gathering her things.



"I don't want to ever talk you again."



"Even better."



"I can't believe I was ever friends with some backstabbing dyke in the first place," he spat.



Haley felt more tears coming, but fought them back. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction.



"You're even worse than your father," she replied, before grabbing Brooke's keys and walking away.



She didn't let herself break down until she was back in the car and out of his site. Once there, the tears poured out as she felt the hole that was burning through her heart where Lucas used to be.