Standing On Two Feet

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



"P. Sawyer!" Brooke called out as she and Haley entered through her front door. "Your favorite person is here!"



"Wouldn't Lucas be her favorite person now?" Haley asked as they climbed up the stairs.



"I don't know, she's still pretty pissed about the way he's reacting."



Haley nodded as Brooke opened Peyton's bedroom door to find the blonde still lying in bed, facing away from them.



"Told you she'd be hung over," Brooke laughed.



"I'm not hung over," Peyton mumbled.



"Please tell me Lucas didn't wear you out."



"Ew," Haley scrunched her nose.



Peyton didn't reply.



"Wait," Brooke gasped. "Y'all finally did the deed?"



Once more, Peyton didn't reply.



"Pey?" Brooke asked, climbing onto the bed behind her. She rolled her over onto her back to find tears streaming down her best friend's face. "P. Sawyer, what's wrong? I know he isn't that bad."



"It broke," Peyton replied softly.



"It broke? As in you broke Lucas?"



Haley's eyes widened at the look of fear in Peyton's eyes, "No...the condom broke."



Brooke's jaw dropped, "Well, I mean, y'all stopped...right?"



Peyton looked at the two of them guiltily.



"After what happened with Nathan and I, you think people around here would learn to be careful," Haley frowned.



"I was drunk," Peyton replied as more tears started to fall. "And horny. And in love. That's not a good combination."



"Well, how long until you can find out?"



"Next week."



"How's Lucas taking it?"



"Not good."



"Well, if he'd bring a spare next time," Haley replied, rolling her eyes, making Peyton laugh. She reached out, squeezing the blonde's hand. "It'll be fine."



"Thanks," Peyton smiled softly.



"Why don't you take a nap? We'll get out of your hair. You ready Brooke?" Haley asked, turning to the raven-haired girl on the side of her that had grown increasingly quiet throughout the duration of their visit.



She nodded, standing, "Yea."



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



"So, what's on your mind?" Haley asked, hopping up onto the island in the kitchen of their apartment.



"Nothing. Why?" Brooke asked, over her shoulder.



"Because you're doing the dishes," Haley smiled.



Brooke sighed, dropping the towel in the sink, rubbing her forehead tiredly as she turned around to face her. Haley opened her arms, and Brooke stepped to her, allowing her to wrap her in an embrace as she leaned into her stomach.



"I don't know," Brooke murmured, burying her face in Haley's shirt, relaxing at the feeling of Haley running her fingers through her hair. "My stomach's been in knots all afternoon, and I feel all anxious."



"You think it may have something to do with Peyton?" Haley asked patiently.



Brooke looked up at her, her eyes showing her vulnerability completely at that moment, and Haley felt herself falling for her all over again, knowing that she would never let anybody else see this side of her.



"She's my best friend," Brooke said softly. "Maybe I'm just scared for her?"



Haley brought a hand up, cradling her face gently, rubbing a soothing thumb over her cheek, "Do you think it may also have partly to do with Lucas?"



Brooke looked at her, confused.



"He was your first love Brooke," she reminded carefully. "And remember when you thought you were pregnant back in junior year? You can't tell me that you didn't think about what it would be like, raising a child with him, even if only for a few seconds."



Brooke frowned, her eyes falling to the floor, "Hales..."



"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Haley replied. "You're only human."



"It kind of hurts," Brooke admitted, taking Haley's hand off her cheek and lacing their fingers together.



"How so?"



"Not necessarily the Lucas thing. More so the both of them," she sighed, leaning down and resting her head on her girlfriend's lap. "Just digging the knife in my back even further."



Haley felt her heart break for the girl before her as she rubbed her back comfortingly, "Anything I can do?"



"Yea," Brooke nodded, standing up straight.



Haley raised an eyebrow.



"You can continue to be the most amazing girlfriend ever," she smiled softly. "Cause I'd be lost without you."



Haley returned the smile as Brooke helped her down. She wrapped her arms around the taller girl's waist, hugging her tightly. Brooke kissed the top of her head, holding her close.



"I love you...so much," she whispered.



"I love you too," Haley replied, pulling back enough to look at her. "How about we leave the dishes for tomorrow, and just go to bed? It's been a long day."



"When you say we..."



"I'll do them," Haley nodded, laughing as she guided the cheerleader to the back bedroom.



"I think I'm gonna take a nice hot shower," Brooke stretched.



"Sounds good," Haley nodded.



"Care to join me?"



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



Haley sighed in content as she stepped under the hot stream from the shower. She felt a body step in right behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist, holding her. She tilted her head to the side as Brooke's lips found her neck, and she reached out, leaning against the shower wall for support. Haley turned around in her arms, smiling up at her. Brooke smiled back tiredly, her mind still on other things. Haley leaned up on her toes, kissing her sweetly.



"How about we take a rain check?"



Brooke nodded, returning the kiss just as tenderly. She pulled away, her head tilting down, pressing her cheek against Haley's as the water poured over them. It never ceased to amaze her how the tutor always knew exactly what was on her mind, and exactly what she needed.



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



"No," Brooke grumbled with a smile at the feeling of Haley trying to slip out of her arms. "It's not time to get up yet."



Haley laughed, allowing herself to be pulled back down, "You can sleep longer if you want."



"What's the point if you're not here?" Brooke pouted cutely. "Besides, where are you going so early in the morning?"



"To the river court."



Brooke sat up, "You sure?"



Haley nodded, "I've been thinking about this thing with Peyton...he's got to be scared to death, Brooke."



"And like you weren't when it came to us?"



Haley frowned, and Brooke sighed, sorry for hurting her feelings.



"Do you want me to come with you?"



Haley's eyes softened, "No, but thanks for offering."



"Are you sure you're ready for this?"



"Actually, I know I'm not, but sometimes you just have to suck it up, right?"



"Hales..."



"I'm fine," she assured her. "I need to do this, though."



"I know," Brooke nodded, brushing the tutor's bangs out of her eyes with a smile. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't."



Haley smiled back, "Thanks. I'll call to see what you want to do for lunch, ok?"



"Sounds like a plan," Brooke nodded, reaching over and kissing her forehead.