Looking For Solid Ground

Haley hurried blindly into the girls locker room.

Brooke was reapplying her lip gloss when she heard the locker room door open. She looked up to see Haley rushing in.



"Tutor-"



"Tigger?" Haley’s voice cracked. "I'm so sorry. I'm not okay. I need you. Please, I really need you right now," she said, tears streaming down her face.



Brooke rushed over to her, pulling her close. She led her over to the sofa the cheerleaders had recently added into the locker room, and sat down, pulling Haley onto her lap. Haley curled up against her, snuggling into her neck as Brooke wrapped her arms around her tightly.



"Hey, it’s gonna be ok.”



"No. No, it's not." Haley cried. "It's like I have this huge whole in me, and it won't go away. And there's no one for me to turn to. Nathan's never around, and when he is, he can't even look at me. Lucas is so wrapped up in his own life, that he doesn't have time for me. And I don't know why, but it's like I've lost you as a friend. I don't know what I did to upset you. But I'm sorry; I'm so sorry. I can't lose you. I've already lost everything else. I can't lose you too. I need you Brooke," she sobbed.



Brooke looked up to the ceiling--her own tears now falling.



"Shhh, sweetie. I'm right here. You have me, ok? You haven't lost me. I'm here for you, I promise. I'm so sorry I left you all alone. But I'm here now ok? And I'll never leave you again, I promise."



"It just hurts so much," Haley cried. Brooke could feel Haley's warm tears falling down her neck, and she pulled the smaller girl even closer.



"I know it does baby. I know it does. But you can't blame yourself, ok? You haven't done anything wrong. You're the most amazing person I know. You're so strong, and so beautiful, and so smart, and you have this heart that's bigger than the universe. You are sweet and kind, and I don't know why this bad stuff keeps happening to you, but you don't deserve it, and it certainly isn't your fault."



Haley looked up, tears rolling down her cheeks. As she looked into her Brooke's eyes, Brooke struggled to keep her composure. Behind all the pain, there was still such innocence and hope in Haley's eyes. Even after all that had happened, she was still so pure, that it was unsettling.



"Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.



"Yes," Brooke replied, wiping the tears off of Haley's face. She rubbed her cheeks with her thumbs, trying to calm her. Then pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. Haley snuggled back down into Brooke and closed her eyes. Silent tears were still falling, but for the first time in a long time, she actually believed that she would be ok.



Brooke ran a hand up and down Haley's bare back, soothing her. After a while, Brooke heard Haley's shaky breathing even out as she fell asleep. She looked down and smiled fondly at the girl, pushing a curl that had fallen onto her forehead.



The locker room door squeaked opened, "Brooke?"



"Over here," Brooke called quietly.



Bevin quickly rounded the lockers, finding Brooke sitting on the couch, with a very broken looking Haley in her arms. Brooke brought a finger to her lips. It looked like they were already having a rough night, and it was only about to get worse.



"Brooke, it's Peyton. He's back. He came back, and he has her. Lucas went after her, but nobody knows where they are,” Bevin said, her voice shaking.



Brooke felt her heart drop to her toes, knowing exactly to whom Bevin was referring. She looked down at the sleeping Haley in her arms, not knowing what to do.



"Haley," she whispered, her voice faltering. She shook Haley gently. "Haley, please wake up," Brooke all but begged.



Haley opened her eyes, looking around, trying to adjust to her surroundings.



"Mm, Brooke, I'm sorry. How long was I out for?" she asked. "Hey Bevin," she said noticing her for the first time. She saw the look on Bevin's face, and turned to find an identical one on Brooke's.



"What's wrong?" she asked fearfully.



"Derek has Peyton," Brooke replied