Standing On Two Feet

So, it is taking longer than I would like for this story to kinda take off, but I realized that I couldn't rush into it because i had to kinda tie everything in first so anyway...enjoy.



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"Hey girls," Karen smiled down at Brooke and Haley who were seated at a booth in the cafe. "You two are up early. You had fun last night?"



"Loads," Brooke grinned as Haley blushed deeply.



"Good," she nodded. "Well, anything you want, it's on the house."



"Karen--" Haley started to argue.



"Haley, I haven't made you pay for anything over here since you were eight. Just because you graduated doesn't make a difference," Karen replied.



Brooke laughed as Karen walked away to place their orders for breakfast, "If I had known there were perks to dating the waitress, I'd have done this a long time ago."



"Shut up," Haley laughed as Brooke made sure Karen was still in the back before kissing her on the temple.



"So, Haley James," Brooke smiled. "What do you want to do with the rest of your life?"



"What are you talking about?"



"Well, you already fixed me this morning...several times over, so now it's your turn."



"Brooke," Haley blushed. "All we did was make out this morning, and you know it."



Brooke just smirked as her eyes lit up.



"And anyway, I thought we've talked about this? I'm gonna go to college, become a teacher, and live off of you the rest of my life," she smiled.



"What college?"



Haley's eyes widened.



Brooke shrugged, "I pay more attention than people give me credit for. For instance, I know for a fact that as a little girl you always dreamed of going to Stanford. Then when you married Nathan, that changed to Duke. Then with the points shaving, that changed to anywhere that would take him in. And now..."



"I don't know."



Brooke frowned, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.



Haley leaned her head on Brooke's shoulder with a sigh, "How can everything be so screwed up and so perfect all at once?"



"God is a funny lady," Brooke nodded.



Haley laughed softly, "What about you?"



"I go where you go."



"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Haley asked. "I mean, you're living your dream right now. You can't just do that anywhere, but school I can."



Brooke smiled, "I design clothes. All I need is a piece of paper and a couple crayons for that. I go where you go."



"What about NYU? I mean, it's a good school, and isn't New York like big in fashion or something?"



"Or something," Brooke grinned. "But is that where you really want to go?"



"It's a good school."



"Hales..."



"What? It's a good compromise."



"No," Brooke shook her head. "No it's not because in my opinion you've been the only one compromising during the last couple years, and I will not have you doing it on my watch."



"I haven't compromised that much," Haley said softly.



Brooke raised a signature eyebrow, "This time last year where were you?"



"On tour."



"What happened?"



"I came home to work on my marriage."



"Compromise," Brooke nodded.



"Brooke--"



"And Stanford? Why did you switch to Duke?"



"Because that was Nathan's dream school, and he worked really hard to get there."



"And you didn't work really hard to get a record contract?"



"Brooke--"



"Compromise," she repeated.



"What about the accident? As if that wasn't the biggest compromise ever--"



"Stop it!" Haley said firmly, moving out of her grip.



"Haley..."



"No," Haley shook her head. "I get it. I compromised a lot to be with Nathan, I get that. But that's what you do in order to be with the one you love and to make it work. Life's not a fairy tale. You can't always have things your way, Brooke."



"I know," Brooke's eyes fell.



"I mean, you act like I haven't had to compromise anything in order to be with you."



"I would never make you compromise something important to you," Brooke argued.



"What about Lucas?"



"I never said you couldn't be friends with him."



"And Nathan never said I had to come back from tour either."



"Yea, but he would've left you if you didn't. I wouldn't--"



"Brooke, just stop. Please?" she begged, softly.



Brooke felt her heart break slightly at the look of hurt in her eyes as she pulled her into a hug, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought any of that up."



"It's ok," she replied, relaxing at the feeling of Brooke's cheek pressed lightly against her own. "I'm sorry for snapping."



"You had every right to," Brooke said, pulling away as Karen walked up with their food. "Thanks."



"You two enjoy," she smiled before walking away.



"Brooke, nothing gives me the right to snap at you like that," Haley frowned.



"Yea, but sometimes that's the only way to get me to shut up," Brooke shrugged. "I know that. Once I get started it's hard to stop...kinda like you with your rambling except that you rambling is the most adorable thing ever."



"Brooke..." Haley fussed, feeling her cheeks burning.



Brooke laughed, loving the way that Haley reacted to a compliment, "It's true. Deal with it."



Haley shook her head with a smile, "What am I going to do with you?"



"Anything you want," Brooke grinned, flashing her dimples as Haley's cheeks turned a darker red. Brooke's raspy laugh made her heart flutter, and Haley linked their hands together under the table.



"So, these are Karen's famous pancakes?" Brooke asked, stabbing her piece with a fork.



"You've never had her pancakes before?"



"I'm not normally a breakfast person."



Haley raised an eyebrow, "You've been eating breakfast every morning with me."



"Well yea, do you know how insanely cute you look when you're eating? I wouldn't miss that for the world."



"Brooke..."



"God, I want to kiss you so bad right now," she replied, her voice low as her hand slid out of Haley's and onto the tutor's knee.



Haley looked up as the front door opened, "Maybe we should've gotten these to go."



"I like the way you think," Brooke smiled, but it slowly faded at the look on Haley's face. She followed her gaze to where Lucas was standing, eyeing the two of them carefully. Brooke's eyes narrowed at him, slipping her hand back with Haley's. "You want to go?"



"Do you think we should?"



"It's up to you. Can you stand looking at his face? Cause I know I've suddenly lost my appetite."



"Maybe we...do you think I should try talking to him?"



Brooke's face softened as she turned to the shorter girl, "This is one of the things you wanted to fix, huh?"



"I miss him," she admitted, looking down at her plate as Lucas took a seat on a bar stool.



"He's your best friend--"



"You're my best friend."



"No," Brooke smiled gently. "He's your best friend, and I'm ok with that. Currently, he's being a complete jackass, so honestly, no I don't think you should talk to him right now, but that's just me being insanely protective and not wanting you to get hurt anymore than you already are. But if you do decided to talk to him, whether it be today or in a year from now, I'm won't be upset in the least bit. I know what it's like to be betrayed by a best friend, but still need them in your life. I know it sucks, and it hurts like hell, but it'll get better. I promise."



"Pinky swear?"



"Cross my heart hope to die."



Haley smiled before turning to glance at Lucas who sent a glare their way, "Not today."



"Ok," Brooke nodded. "Then let's go. I need to check up on my best friend, anyway. Someone may have had a little too much fun with Mr. Jack Daniels last night."