Looking For Solid Ground

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



A knock on the door caused Brooke to jump from the table and race to it. It had been another long afternoon of homework, and Brooke was hoping for an escape.



"Hey," Lucas greeted.



"Save me," she begged.



Lucas laughed, "Is Hales here?"



"Yea, I'm right here, Luke," Haley called from the table.



Brooke stepped aside, allowing Lucas into the apartment, praying that he needed Haley to go somewhere with him. She loved the girl, but she felt as if her brain were about to explode.



"Hey," he smiled, leaning down to give her a half hug. "I know this is short notice, but do you have any plans this afternoon?"



Brooke silently thanked God for answering her prayers.



"Well, I'm supposed to be helping Brooke with her homework, why?"



"The waitress called in sick, and my mom knows you need some extra money, so she told me to ask if you wanted the shifts."



Haley bit her lip nervously. She really did need the money, but she had promised Brooke she would help her get her grades up.



Brooke couldn't help but smile, knowing what was going on in the tutor's mind.



"She wants them," Brooke answered for her.



Haley gave her a questioning look.



"Don't worry about it. You need the money, and my brain needs a break."



"You sure?" Haley asked, standing up and slipping on her shoes.



"Yea, we can finish this tomorrow, beside I think I'm starting to get the hang of this."



Haley smiled warmly, knowing Brooke was lying but was trying to help her. Haley gave her a quick hug and a kiss on her cheek. "You rock," she whispered in Brooke's ear, before following Lucas out the door and into his car.





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





Haley walked back into the apartment, completely exhausted. She had worked a double shift and all she wanted was a hot shower, but the sound of the water running meant that Brooke was currently occupying it. Haley sighed, taking off her shoes and plopping down on the sofa, her head hanging upside down over the arm.



Brooke turned off the water, slowly. She could have sworn she had heard the front door open. Her heart began to race. If it had been Haley, she would have made her presence known. She stepped out of the shower, pulling her hair up in a quick bun, and wrapping a towel around herself. She grabbed the plunger from under the sink, and holding it like a baseball bat, she tiptoed out of the bathroom.



"I'm warning you," Brooke called as she inched down the hall and into the living room. "I'm armed!"



Haley opened her eyes tiredly to see the outline of Brooke creeping towards her.



She couldn't help but laugh, "Does that involve a whip of some sorts?"



"Shit, Haley, "Brooke sighed when she stepped into the living room "I thought we were getting robbed."



"So you were going to defend yourself with a plunger while dressed in a...towel," Haley managed to choke the word out, after Brooke's attire fully clicked in her brain. She was still hanging over the armrest of the sofa, and the journey from the floor up Brooke's long legs, that seemed even longer due to the rather small towel, up to her chest, where Haley had no idea how Brooke was not spilling out of the towel, and finally up to her face.



"Sorry, I scared you," she smiled nervously.



"Sorry I'm so hot," Brooke teased, noticing the blush rising to Haley's cheeks.



"Wha--I--hunh?" Haley squeaked.



"I said, sorry there may not be much hot water left," Brooke smiled. "I wasn't sure how soon you'd be home, so I kinda splurged on the hot water in the shower."



"Oh, ok. That's ok," Haley nodded, standing up slowly.



Brooke eyed her carefully.



"I'm just going to take a quick one, and head off to bed. Are you staying up long?"



"Nah, I'm just going to dry my hair and then I'm crashing."



"Ok, yea. Ok, um, so I'll just go shower," Haley managed.



"Maybe it's a good thing, it's a cold one," Brooke laughed after Haley had walked by.



"What?" Haley called from the bathroom.



"Nothing hun, I'm just talking to myself," Brooke smiled. She was starting to gain control again.





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





"Tell me again how much you love me," Haley grumbled, setting down a box that had to have weighed more than she did.



"Haley James, I love you more than life itself," Brooke proclaimed, placing down the small make-up bag that she had brought in.



"Brooke, if you keep on bringing in stuff like that, then we won't be finished unpacking your things until we graduate from college," she sighed. She had been working non stop all week: before school, during lunch break, after school, and her body was chewing her out for it. And now that she was stuck lugging in boxes full of Brooke's clothes and shoes into the apartment, she wouldn't be surprised if her body completely rebelled, chopped off her head, and walked away.



Brooke gave her a dimpled smile, and held up her hands, "Manicure."



Haley rolled her eyes, "Remind me again why we didn't ask any guys to help you move into the apartment."



"Because, we are two strong, independent women who don't need a man to help them."



"I know, but it would have been nice, and I'm sure Luke would have helped in a heart beat."



Brooke shook her head, "No he wouldn't have. Today's Peyton's first day that she can exert herself, so you know they're going to be--"



"Eww, Brooke. I do not like to picture my best friend doing that, ok? Man, now that's going to be stuck in my head all day," Haley whined, trying to rub the image from her eyes.



Brooke laughed, tugging on Haley's arm, "Well then, let's go get another load of boxes. Maybe it'll help get your mind off of Peyton and Lucas doing the deed."



"Brooke!" Haley exclaimed as she allowed herself to be dragged out the apartment.





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





Haley grumbled into her pillow. She had just taken a hot shower and put her pj's on, and was now laying face down on the bed, too tired and sore to even get under the covers.



"I'm gonna kill Brooke," she mumbled.



"Well, it'll be kind of hard to do that when you can't even move," Brooke walked into the room, freshly showered and changed.



Haley turned her head to face Brooke, and couldn't hide the wince of pain.



"Aww, friend, is it that bad?" Brooke asked, frowning as she climbed on the bed. If she had known that Haley was actually in serious pain, she never would have asked her to help out today.



"It's ok. It's not your fault. I think I've just been a little over zealous when it came to waiting tables this week," Haley admitted.



"Hales, you know if you really need money, I'd be happy to lend you some," Brooke said, rubbing her back, soothingly.



"And you know I'd never accept it," Haley replied.



"You and your pride."



"It's no worse than yours."



Brooke laughed, "So how bad is it?"



"If I got hit by another car right now, I think it'd feel better," Haley answered, honestly.



"You know, I have been told that I give amazing massages."



"Please tell me that you aren't joking," Haley begged. "Because if you are, you are evil."



"No, I'm being serious. I take it you want one?"



"If I could move my head, I'd be nodding right now."



Brooke laughed, shaking her head. The girl was definitely something else.



Haley struggled to raise her arms, and sighed. "I can't take off my shirt."



Brooke's eyebrow flew up, "You can't take off your what?"



"My shirt--for the massage," Haley reminded her. "I can't take it off by myself, it hurts too much. Help me."



"Uh...ok...yea...your shirt," Brooke swallowed hard. She shook her head, trying to get her composure back.



"Ok," she sighed. Her fingers played with the hemline of Haley's tanktop as she carefully lifted it up, revealing the small of Haley's back ever so slowly. Volts of electricity were sent through her fingertips as they grazed Haley's skin. Brooke bit down on her lip as the back of Haley's bra was revealed. She continued raising the shirt until she got it over Haley's head, and then slid it off her arms. She tossed it to the side with a deep breath.



"You're hands better not be cold," Haley warned, thankful she could hide her face in the pillow because just the thought of Brooke seeing her bare back was enough to make her cheeks crimson.



"Shut up and relax," Brooke laughed, as she slowly straddled Haley.



She placed her hands on Haley's shoulders, deciding to start slow. As she pressed the muscles between her shoulder blades, an audible moan escaped Haley's lips, and Brooke was finally able to relax, knowing that she still had the touch. Her hands began to daringly move lower, kneading the muscles in Haley's lower back. She could feel the knots under her hands.



"Haley, I'm sorry for working you so hard today," Brooke whispered honestly.



"Less talking, more massaging."



Brooke smiled as she began working the muscles near Haley's spine, but she soon stopped with a frown. She had only given these types of massages to guys before, and she was now finding a new obstacle.



"If it's in the way, you can undo it," Haley told her, her voice soft.



Brooke swallowed hard, "You sure?"



Haley bit her lip nervously as she reached back with her arms, unhooking her bra. She slid it off and laid back down on her stomach, careful to keep herself covered the whole time. She had to work to keep her breathing steady as the feeling of Brooke's hands on her bare skin enveloped her.



Brooke stared down in awe at the sight in front of her. Her heart was racing at the thought of the topless Haley beneath her. She took a deep breath to steady herself. If Haley wasn't nervous about this, then why should she be? She began to work her way down Haley's spine one more time. She could feel the muscles tense slightly under her touch as her hands worked dangerously lower. Ok, so maybe Haley was nervous about this. Brooke ran a slow, lazy fingernail back up Haley's spine, enjoying the goosebumps that rose on the tutor's skin at her touch.



Haley wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew she didn't want this feeling to end. She gave up on trying to steady her breathing as it became more ragged, as Brooke became more comfortable in her exploration of Haley's back. She couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her lips when Brooke pressured just in the right spot. She felt her stomach muscles tighten as she felt Brooke's fingers lightly graze over her hip bones as she worked the sides of her lower back. Nathan had given her massages before, but it was nothing compared to this. Brooke's hands were so soft and warm and gentle, and they seemed to know exactly where to touch.



Brooke had to resist the urge to flip the girl over and taste every part of her as a deep sigh escaped her lips. She tried closing her eyes, hoping that if she took away the sight beneath her that she would be able to control herself. Unfortunately, just the feeling of Haley's soft skin of her beautifully toned back beneath her fingers was enough to make her want her.



Brooke's fingers froze. Her brain started racing. Her heart started pounding, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.



"Better?" Brooke asked shakily.



"Yea," Haley replied, confused at the sudden lack of contact.



Brooke climbed off of Haley, and sat on the bed, facing away, allowing her time to get dressed. She took a deep breath. 'Ok, it's ok' she thought to herself. 'Haley's beautiful, and hot. Everybody knows that. I guess all the play flirting is just getting to me. It's perfectly normal, no reason to freak out.'



She smiled to herself, happy with her conclusion as she turned around to find Haley climbing under the covers. She turned off the lights and got back in the bed.



"You okay?" Haley asked worriedly as Brooke climbed under the covers herself, lying on her back and looking up at the ceiling.



"Yea, I'm fine. Are you feeling better?"



Haley smiled, "Yes, completely. You rock you know?"



Brooke laughed, "Well yea, I mean it is me we're talking about."



"I saw that," Brooke teased, knowing fully well, even though it was pitch black, that Haley had rolled her eyes.



"Prove it."



Brooke let out another laugh, closing her eyes, trying to get some sleep, but something was missing. She opened her eyes, giving them a moment of two to adjust to the dark. She could make out the outline of Haley's body. She was on her back as well, and it was obvious from the way her hands were fiddling with each other that she was wide awake also.



"Well," Brooke smiled, holding out her arm. "What are you waiting for?"



Haley smiled as she scooted closer to Brooke who was still on her back. Brooke wrapped her arm around Haley, pulling her close as Haley turned onto her stomach, resting her head on Brooke's shoulder, and her arm over her stomach. Brooke kissed the top of her head and closed her eyes once more, finally able to fall asleep.





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





Haley woke up to the sound of the rain pouring on the roof. She snuggled into the body next to her and was suddenly very aware that the body didn't belong to her husband. She sat up quickly, drawing her knees to her chest. She had been doing so well about not thinking about him, but now with the rain, the memories flooded back. That time when they made up in the rain, and he proposed for the first time. That time on the hood of Nathan's car after Haley had come back from tour. That time when he took her to the football field and had the sprinklers come on.



Brooke was suddenly very aware of the lack of warmth on her left side. She opened her eyes to find Haley's outline, sitting up in bed holding her knees close. She could hear the soft sniffling, and it hurt her to know the girl was crying.



"Hey," Brooke soothed, sitting up next to her. "What's wrong?"



"The rain," Haley replied softly.



"You're scared of rain?" Brooke asked incredulously.



"Nathan," was the only answer she got. Brooke nodded, remembering the stories of Nathan and Haley in the rain. She had been hoping that Haley was starting to get over Nathan, but she should have known better. They were married for heaven's sake, it would take more than a week to get over him.



"Hales," Brooke sighed softly as she turned to face her. Haley continued to look down at her knees, allowing the tears to flow off her cheeks and down her legs. Brooke did her best to wipe the tutor's tears away, but they kept flowing. She sighed in defeat, leaning over to kiss Haley's temple, lingering a little longer than necessary, but trying to show Haley that she cared.



Brooke got out of bed, and closed the blinds, shutting the rain out of sight. She then walked to the radio and turned it on loudly, shutting the rain out of earshot. She then left Haley alone, going into the kitchen. She returned about ten minutes later to find Haley still sitting in darkness in bed. As she got closer, Brooke could tell she was still crying, but at least she wasn't clinging to her legs so tightly.



Brooke climbed back on the bed, handing Haley one of the mugs of hot chocolate she had made.



"I heard it makes people feel warm and cozy," Brooke commented, taking a sip of her own.



Haley let her legs slide down and sat indian style as she took the mug from Brooke, taking a careful sip as to not burn her tongue. The two of them sat like that in silence, drinking their hot chocolate and lost in their own minds.



"Thanks," Haley said, taking Brooke out of her thoughts.



Brooke nodded, "I try."



"I'm sorry about this," Haley commented as she placed her mug on the side table.



"About what?" Brooke asked as she did the same.



Haley made a motion with her hand around her face, and Brooke couldn't help but let out a slight laugh.



"I shouldn't be like this. I should be strong, I mean I've been knowing that this was coming for a while now. I shouldn't let it affect me so much, and I certainly shouldn't be thinking about him all the time," Haley explained, earning an eye roll from Brooke.



Brooke turned to face her and took Haley's legs in her hands, turning her so that they were facing each other.



"Haley, you were married," Brooke replied, stressing the last word. "He was your first love. He was your first time. You have every right to be upset, and you are going to be upset. You're going to think about him, and you're going to want him, and you'll never stop loving him."



"Gee Brooke, you really know how to cheer someone up," Haley sighed.



"But," Brooke continued, ignoring the sarcasm. "Eventually, you'll think about him less, and eventually, you'll want him less, and eventually, it will hurt less."



"How do you know?"



"Because I've been there--well, not the whole married thing--but I've been through the whole lost my first love thing. Twice actually," she added as an afterthought.



Haley nodded, laying back down. Brooke did the same, figuring the conversation was over. She opened her arm, allowing Haley to return to their original position. Haley turned back onto her stomach, throwing an arm over Brooke and snuggling into her neck. Neither fell asleep, although both were tired. They just had too many thoughts racing through their brains.



"Brooke?" Haley asked softly, breaking the silence with a voice that was full of sleep and sadness.



"Yea hun?"



"How long is eventually?" she asked, looking up at the cheerleader.



Brooke tilted her head down to look at the smaller girl, and pushed away a strand of hair that had fallen from her face.



"I'm still trying to figure that out," she answered honestly, thinking of the slight nauseous feeling that still developed every time she saw Lucas and Peyton together. Haley nodded tiredly. She pushed herself up slightly and grazed Brooke's lips with her own. She then laid back down, snuggling back into her.



Brooke could feel her heart break. It had been a simple gesture of thanks and a slight apology for all that Lucas had put her through, but she could feel all of Haley's pain in that brief moment. She couldn't stop the tears that began to silently fall. Haley scooted closer, allowing Brooke to tighten her grip on her, thinking that the tears were for Lucas.





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





"Broo-ooke," a sing-song voice called.



Brooke took a deep breath, but stayed in a slumber.



"Broo-ooke," there was that sweet voice again.



A small smile played on Brooke's face as she dreamt of the owner of that voice.



"Brooke, wake the hell up, I'm starving," Haley huffed, growing tired of being ignored.



Brooke grumbled as she opened her eyes to find Haley looking up at her.



"Good morning," she smiled.



"I'm hungry."



"When aren't you?"



"After I've eaten," Haley replied.



Brooke laughed, pulling the girl closer into a tight hug. Haley snuggled into her with a smile.



"Or we could just stay like this. I'd be cool with that," Haley admitted. She didn't know what it was about Brooke, but when she was in her arms, there was no where else she'd rather be.



"What about breakfast?" Brooke asked with an amused smile.



"I think I'll live."



Brooke kissed the top of Haley's head as she rubbed a lazy hand up and down her back, unaware of the emotions that were coursing through Haley's body at her touch.



"You sure? Because I was thinking of making you some french toast," Brooke said.



"You can't cook," Haley reminded her.



"Ok, well I was thinking of you making me some french toast."



"No you weren't. You were sleeping," Haley pointed out.



The slightest blush rose to Brooke's cheeks.



"Unless," Haley continued, a smile growing on her face as she pushed her self up on her forearms, causing Brooke's hand to pause on her lower back. "Unless of course, you were dreaming of me."



"Sorry to burst your bubble Hales, but my dreams consist of shopping," Brooke lied.



"Right," Haley replied. "And that's why you've taken a cold shower nearly every morning this week."



"I have not," Brooke looked up at her indignantly.



Haley burst into laughter.



"You enjoy teasing me don't you?"



She could only nod.



"Well, fine. I'll just sleep on the sofa from now on."



Haley's face fell quickly, "No, please don't. I'm sorry, I'll do whatever you want."



"I don't know," Brooke sighed.



"Please Tigger, you know I don't sleep well by myself," her eyes were wide and full of what looked like fear, and Brooke felt her stomach tighten.



"I'll make you a deal."



"Anything."



"You make me breakfast today, and I'll sleep with you for as long as you need."



A playful smile came across Haley's face, "Who knew all I had to do was cook for you to get in your pants? I bet a lot of guys would love to know that little secret."



Brooke raised a signature eyebrow. It looked like the game was back on.



"It doesn't work for just anybody. I guess I just have a soft spot when it comes to tutors."



"Oh really? I guess it's just too bad that I'm not a tutor anymore then."



Brooke put her hands on Haley's hips, reveling in the feeling of her skin beneath her hands and pulled her down to where the smaller girl was lying on top of her. Haley continued to support herself on her arms to keep a safe distance between the two.



"Well, I guess I'll just have to make an exception to the rule then," Brooke replied in a low whisper. Haley closed her eyes at the sound of the raspy voice that constantly drove her crazy. When she reopened them a dimply smirk played on Brooke's lips. That look that Brooke had seen in Haley's eyes after she had kissed her in the kitchen had returned. As the sound of her heart echoed in her ears and a warming sensation grew in the pit of her stomach, she knew there was a similar one in her own.



"But where would we be without rules?" Haley asked, struggling to hear her own thoughts. She fought to keep control of her brain, knowing that if she let go, she would do something she would regret.



"Rules were meant to be broken," Brooke countered as her hands daringly slid over Haley's toned stomach, raising goose bumps as they traced along her exposed skin. Haley bit her lip. Every touch of Brooke's hand sent another volt of electricity through her body, and she wasn't sure how much more she could take.



"Brooke," she warned, her breath growing ragged.



Brooke shook her head softly, looking up at Haley with glazed over eyes. Haley couldn't take it anymore, and her lips crashed down onto Brooke's as she tried to convey every ounce of love and passion and lust that was coursing through her body.



Brooke's lips captured hers welcomingly, trying to memorize the way she tasted. She decided the space between them had to go, and Brooke wrapped one of her legs around Haley, skillfully flipping them over, never breaking there lip contact. She lowered herself onto her, wanting to feel every inch of Haley beneath her. All she could think about was exploring every part of her. When Haley moaned into her lips as their bodies crashed together, it was all Brooke could do to keep from taking the girl right then and there.



Brooke pulled away, tugging on Haley's bottom lip. She slowly made her way across Haley's jaw line with slow, tantalizing kisses. Her hands cautiously sliding up Haley's stomach.



"Brooke," Haley groaned.



Brooke nibbled her ear playfully.



"I guess you can't resist the 'Brooke charm' now can you?" she whispered teasingly.



Haley pushed Brooke off of her, standing up quickly. She had to put a hand on the bedside table to keep from falling over because she was still on a high from the feeling of Brooke's hands all over her body. Brooke looked up at her with confusion.



"Is that all I am to you?" Haley asked, looking down at her with a mixture of sadness, pain, and anger. "Am I just a game? Am I just another one of your conquests?"



"Haley, I was just joking with you," Brooke replied, sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed so that she was sitting in front of Haley. "I didn't mean anything by it."



Haley nodded, "I should have known."



"No, you're looking at this all wrong," Brooke tried to explain, taking Haley's hands into her own. "I was just having fun; it's no big deal."



Haley pulled away from her grasp, tears in her eyes, "Maybe this is my fault. I should have know better than to put my trust in anyone, especially you after all the times you broke it."



"Haley, I don't understand why you're so upset," Brooke said honestly.



"Because Brooke, this isn't just some game to me. You aren't just some game to me. Call me stupid, but I thought you felt the same way," she sighed, walking to her closet. She pulled out a bag and started to throw clothes into it.



"Haley what are you doing?"



"I'm going stay with Lucas."



"Haley, you're overreacting."



"Am I Brooke?" she asked, turning back to face her. "Because I really don't think I am."



"First off, this is your apartment. You don't have to leave."



"Yea I do," Haley replied, continuing to throw some of her things into the bag. "You see, I already had way too many painful memories here, but I thought that with you here with me, I could make it through them."



"You can," Brooke said, standing up and walking over to Haley. She hated the fact that Haley's voice was full of defeat.



"No I can't, because all you've done is added to the list painful memories."



Haley zipped up the bag and walked to the front of the house, Brooke following her the whole way. Haley turned to Brooke when she reached the door, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.



"Tell me I'm wrong," she pleaded. "Tell me I'm reading way too much into this."



Brooke opened her mouth but nothing came out. Honestly, everything was happening too fast. Her head was still fuzzy and her heart was still racing from the feeling of Haley beneath her, their lips crashing together. She had no idea how it went from so good to so horrible in a matter of seconds.



Haley nodded sadly, "Bye Brooke."



"Haley wait," Brooke called, but it was to late. The door was already closed.