Standing On Two Feet

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Haley watched Lucas' jaw twitch as he eyed the door to the cafe carefully while the three of them sat down to have a burger for lunch.



"Luke, I doubt he's gonna show up here," Haley said.



"Yea, well I think he's proven that he doesn't exactly think straight when he's angry," he frowned, taking a bite out of his burger.



Brooke looked around at the couple of other small groups gathered in the cafe for lunch. Every now and them someone would turn their way, almost as if to study them.



"Do you think everybody knows?" she asked.



"I'm not sure," Haley shook her head.



"I don't think it's so much a matter as to who heard, as it is a matter of who actually believes it," Lucas weighed in.



"True," Haley nodded, shivering slightly. "Shoot, now I feel like everybody's watching me."



"That's cause they are," Brooke replied, sending a glare over at a table that was openly staring at them. They quickly turned the other way. "But whatever. It's just cause they're jealous cause we're hot and they're not."



Haley smiled.



"I'm included in this gauge of hotness, right?" Lucas smirked, jokingly.



"I don't know," Haley looked at him, furrowing her eye brows. She loved having her best friend back. "With a little work, then yea, maybe."



"Whatever you bookworm," he teased, tossing a french fry at her.



"Look who's talking, Mr. I wore Spiderman underwear until I was a freshmen in high school."



Brooke's eyes lit up, "You what?"



"I can't believe you just said that," Lucas shook his head. "That's cold."



"Don't dish it out if you can't take it," Haley laughed.



"Spiderman?" Brooke questioned.



Lucas blushed.



"I mean, come on. I can understand Superman, but Spiderman? The guy's a wuss."



"Whatever," Lucas mumbled, taking another bite out of his burger. His head popped up at the sound of the door opening. He relaxed at the sight of a normal customer.



"Lucas, seriously. What are you going to do? Start a fight in the middle of your mom's cafe?" Haley questioned.



"I just don't want him around you, Hales. That's all. I've seen his temper--"



"So have I."



Lucas sighed, "I know, and that's why I don't want the guy near you."



"Luke...he's hurting," Haley shrugged.



"How long is that going to be able to be an excuse for him, Hales?"



"He just found out about me and Brooke, that's just like reopening an old wound, ok? Plus, the stuff that's going on with you and Peyton, he can't help but be reminded of what we lost."



Brooke felt her stomach drop as she turned to the girl beside her, studying her face carefully as she talked to her best friend. How in the world could she have missed that? She was too busy complaining about some high school jealousy drama to even think about how the news of Peyton possibly being pregnant would affect the former tutor.



"I still don't want him around you," Lucas said.



"I know," Haley sighed. "Just if he's not around me, cut him some slack?"



"Alright," he nodded.



"So, how's that going, anyway? With Peyton?"



Lucas shrugged, "I don't know. She's pretty withdrawn right now."



Brooke rolled her eyes, "She's Peyton. Of course she's withdrawn. Emo is what she does. You need to just go in there and tell her how you feel...how do you feel?"



"I don't know," he shook his head. "Scared...like a jackass for letting this happen...angry that I could lose everything I've worked for...nervous because I know I could never live up to what Keith was for me...worried about Peyton and making sure she's healthy."



"So, you're feeling exactly as you should be for someone your age," Haley nodded, reaching over and squeezing his hand.



"I mean, no matter what I love her. Whatever happens, whatever she chooses to do, I'm going to be there right beside her the whole way. If she is...pregnant, and we have this baby, then I'm going to be the best damn father I know how to be for it."



Brooke watched as Haley smiled kindly, her eyes glistening. She reached under the table, taking her other hand that was resting on her lap into her own, squeezing it.



"Oh, Hales, I'm sorry," Lucas frowned, reaching across to wipe a tear away. "I wasn't thinking."



"No, I'm fine," she assured him. "It's ok. You and Peyton...you're gonna be ok too."



Brooke felt like kicking herself. Lucas could see. Lucas, the most oblivious person in the world could see how much this was hurting her girlfriend before she could? How clueless could she be?



"Brooke's right," Haley added. "Peyton needs to hear those things. I'm sure it'd make her feel better."



Lucas nodded, finishing up his burger, "You're probably right. I'm gonna go see if I can get her to at least talk to me."



"Ok, let me know how it goes," Haley smiled, as he slid out of the booth, walking away.



"How about you?" Brooke asked. "You ready to go?"



"Yea," Haley nodded. "It's been a long morning. I could use a nap."



"Sure," Brooke smiled.



++++++++



Brooke slid in bed behind Haley, wrapping her arm tightly around her waist, holding her close.



"What's wrong?" Haley asked, tracing a circle on the back of Brooke's hand that was resting on her stomach.



"I'm sorry."



"For what?"



"For being selfish."



"Brooke, you've been anything but selfish since we've been together. What are you talking about?" she questioned, turning over in her arms to face her.



"When we found out about Peyton, all I could think about was me, and how it made me feel," Brooke explained.



"Well yea, you were hurt," Haley nodded, reaching up to move Brooke's hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear.



"But you were hurting so much worse than me, and I didn't see it," she pointed out.



"Sweetie, I'm fine."



"No, you said it yourself at the cafe. With what's going on with Peyton, you can't help but be reminded of what you lost," Brooke reminded.



"Brooke, I...I'm sorry," Haley shook her head.



"No, no, no," Brooke said quickly. "I'm sorry. I should've realized instead of being such an insensitive ass. Of course this would upset you. I'm so sorry for not seeing that."



"It's ok," Haley replied, her voice soft as she started to tear up.



Brooke leaned forward, kissing both of her eyelids, the saltiness of her tears lingering on her lips as she pulled away. "Honestly, it's not ok, but I promise to be less selfish in the future."



"Can you...just..." Haley struggled, biting her bottom lip as she looked away.



"Aw, baby," Brooke wrapped her arms around her tighter, pulling her as close as she could as she held her. "It's ok," she whispered, kissing the top of her head at the feeling of Haley's warm tears against her neck. "I'm here now," she soothed. "It's gonna be ok."