Looking For Solid Ground

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



"So, what do you want to do?" Brooke asked, leading Haley into their apartment by the hand.



"Sleep," Haley replied honestly.



Brooke smiled at her fondly, walking to their bedroom. She pulled back the covers, allowing Haley to climb in, then tucked her in.



"Where are you going?" Haley asked.



"Oh, uh, I was going to go run those errands. You know, that list you made."



"Now?"



"Not if you don't want me to."



Haley looked up at her with puppy dog eyes, "Can you stay until I fall asleep?"



"Of course," Brooke laughed, climbing into bed next to her. Haley smiled, wrapping her arms around Brooke's waist and kissing her lightly.



"I thought you wanted to sleep," Brooke smiled.



"I do."



"Well, if you keep kissing me, I won't want to stop, and then you'll never get to sleep."



"Since when do you turn down an opportunity to make out?" Haley asked curiously.



"Since I'm worried about you. You had a stressful night last night, and a stressful morning this morning. You need some sleep."



Haley began to pout, knowing Brooke couldn't resist for too long, and she was right. Brooke leaned in, finding Haley's lips with her own, kissing her fully. She felt the familiar wave of dizziness wash over her as she ran a hand through Haley's hair. She felt Haley start to turn on her back, and Brooke followed suit, rolling on top of her, their lips never breaking contact. She ran her tongue across Haley's bottom lip to which Haley gladly obliged.



Brooke slid her fingers down Haley's arms, slowly. She took her hands from around her waist, and gently brought them above Haley's head. She teasingly trailed her nails down the underside of Haley's arms, feeling the girl squirm pleasantly beneath her as the tutor's breath caught in her throat.. Her fingers trailed all the way down Haley's sides as Brooke tugged on Haley's bottom lip. She licked it soothingly and was surprised as Haley start to plant gentle kisses along her jaw line.



Brooke's fingers found the hem of Haley's shirt and started to slide it up. She stopped just below Haley's chest, her hands delighted at the newly found territory they got to explore. She could feel the goose bumps rising across Haley's stomach as Brooke ran a gentle nail across. However, it was Brooke that moaned as Haley sucked gently on the sweet spot between her collar bones.



Haley pulled Brooke down, finding her lips once more, enjoying the softness of them. Brooke's hands found a new playing spot as they traced along the edge of Haley's jeans. She pressed down on Haley, kissing her firmly, getting the moan from her that she had been craving. Brooke expertly flicked open the button on Haley's jeans with one hand, and started to slide down the zipper when she felt the girl squirm beneath her, but this time it was different than before. Brooke pulled away, pushing herself up on her arms. She looked down at Haley, smiling at her swollen lips and glazed over eyes.



"Sor--" she began, but Brooke just shrugged.



"It was fun while it lasted."



"Brooke--"



"Don't worry about it," she insisted, kissing her forehead softly. "You need to get some sleep, so I can go grocery shopping."



Haley smiled as Brooke laid down beside her, pulling her close.



"I love you," she smiled.



"I love you too," Brooke replied, giving her a chaste kiss on the lips. Haley snuggled into her, enjoying the warmth that she always found in Brooke's arms, her eyes closing on their own accord.



++++OTH++++++



Brooke sighed as she felt Haley's breathing even out and soften as she fell into a hard sleep. She loved the girl, but she couldn't wait for her to fall asleep so she could go. She had some business to attend to.



She slid out of Haley's arms, careful not to disturb the sleeping beauty that lay before her. She slipped her shoes back on, grabbed her keys and headed out the door.



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



Brooke walked down the hall, her eyes set on the door before her. She walked into the office.



"Miss Davis?" the secretary asked confusedly, but she ignored the old lady and walked through the next door.



"We need to talk," she demanded.



Principal Turner looked up from his chair with an amused face, "I assume this is about Mrs. Scott?"



"It's Miss James, and yes. Why?"



"Well, I've already had several others come in here on her behalf," he explained.



"And?"



"And, I'll tell you the same thing I told them, this decision is final."



"Why?"



"Because we just don't feel that Haley is the right person for the job."



Brooke frowned, "According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the valedictorian is the student with the highest academic rank in the class. That is Haley, am I right?"



"Yes, but--"



"But what? She earned that spot. Her grades are the only thing that should come into play."



"No, the valedictorian is a representation of this school and it's high standards."



"High standards? Do you even know the students that go to this school?" Brooke asked, unable to hold back the laugh that was bubbling in her throat.



"Miss Davis--"



"No, you're wrong, and you know it," Brooke continued, the laughter subsiding. "Haley is the top student in our class. She is the most deserving. And if it's about character, how dare you question hers? Have you even met this girl? She's been a tutor for the past two years, helping countless students succeed, and know what it feels like to be smart and do something right. She volunteers countless hours around this community. She has an unbelievable talent when it comes to music. She is by far the nicest person I've ever met. She has more morals than anyone else in this god-forsaken town. So, tell me again why she shouldn't be valedictorian, cause really, I don't see it."



"Well, you are a passionate one, aren't you?"



"When it's something I care about and something that I know is right, then yes, I am."



Principal Turner narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully. Brooke kept her gaze, unsteady and unwavering.



"I'll see what I can do," he replied.



"That's not good enough."



"Well, that's as good as I can do for now."



Brooke eyed him, but nodded, sticking out her hand, "Thank you for your time Principal Turner."



He shook it, watching her carefully as she walked out of his office confidently. She definitely wasn't the same cheerleader that had walked into his office four years ago after getting caught making out with some guy in the teachers' lounge.



+++++OTH+++++



"Hey you," Haley smiled from where she was sitting at the island when Brooke walked in the door. "Did you get the groceries?"



Brooke cringed, "I forgot."



"I know," Haley laughed, picking up a piece of paper. "You forgot the list."



Brooke looked at her nervously.



"So where did you really go?"



"I just had some people to deal with."



"Brooke, please tell me that you did not beat up Lucas."



"No," Brooke laughed, but stopped. "You really think I could beat him up?"



Haley held out her hands, and Brooke took them, walking to her.



"Yea, I think you can do anything you set your mind too, especially when you're pissed off," she smiled, kissing the tip of her nose.



"Aww, that's so sweet," Brooke teased.



"Yea, well, I try," Haley replied. "So, about the list..."



Brooke frowned, looking at the long list of things they needed.



"Well..." a slight smile formed as she tugged on Haley's hands, making her hop off the stool, and follow her to the door. "I was thinking that we eat out tonight. How does that sound?"



Haley laughed, "Sounds like a plan."



+++++OTH+++++



"I don't know," Brooke frowned, eyeing the building they were walking towards.



"Come on," Haley sighed. "Karen will know something's up if I don't go. I haven't been there all day."



"What if Lucas is there? Can I hurt him?"



"No," Haley smiled. "We'll just enjoy our meal, and ignore him. He isn't worth our time or your pretty little fists."



"Alright," Brooke sighed, making Haley smile as they walked into the cafe.



"Hey girls," Karen greeted warmly from behind the counter. "I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna see you today Haley."



"Yea, we just had a super busy day today," Haley explained.



"How did graduation rehearsals go?"



"Lucas didn't tell you?"



"Tell me what?"



"Oh, um, nothing," Haley replied. "It went fine."



"Good," Karen smiled. "You two sit wherever you like."



Brooke and Haley smiled, and slid into the corner booth.



"I thought you said none of your family was going to be here to watch you graduate," Brooke commented.



Haley frowned, "I couldn't tell her. She would be heart-broken."



"So, you're just going to let her find out when she shows up to graduation tomorrow and you're not there?"



"No," she sighed. "I'm going to tell her. Can we just enjoy our meal first?"



"Sure," Brooke smiled, squeezing her hand under the table.



++++++++



"Shit," Haley cursed as her phone started to ring just when she had taken a huge bite of her hamburger. She searched through her pocket, pulling out her phone, trying to swallow the food in her mouth.



"H-hello?" she choked, earning a slap on the back from Brooke, who smiled innocently when Haley glared. Brooke watched intently as the conversation went on. She saw Haley's face go from pissed to confused to elated in a matter of minutes.



Haley hung up the phone, beaming. She turned to Brooke, placing her hand on the other side of her face, and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.



"What was that for?"



"That was Principal Turner."



"The Principal has your cell phone number? Kinda kinky."



Haley rolled her eyes, "It's from when I was tutoring. Anyway, I'm valedictorian!"



"Really?" Brooke asked, a smile growing on her face.



"Yea," Haley nodded.



Brooke pulled her into a big hug.



"I am so proud of you," she whispered.



"Me?" Haley asked, pulling away. "I know you had something to do with it. That's where you went this afternoon, wasn't it?"



Brooke shrugged guiltily, earning another hug and kiss on the cheek from Haley.



"What's all the excitement about?" Karen asked, bringing them some more sodas.



"I just realized that I have the greatest friends in the world," Haley beamed at Brooke.