"No."

That's all she had said when Peyton called Brooke, to ask if there was any way they could ever be friends again. She had to get this out of her system somehow, but who was she going to talk to if she didn't have a best friend anymore?

Her feet took her to the answer. It was almost unconscious, as if there was some force that was dragging her there.

Karen's Café, read the sign in front of her. Through the windows she saw Haley swing down and serve a table of four their food as well as a couple drink refills. She worked hard there, everyday after school. She had to have some way of paying for the things she wanted and saving up for college, unlike Peyton and Nathan's "rich daddies".

Peyton pushed the door open, the bell clinking in unison. Haley looked up in response. Peyton could see the change in her face when she looked up at her.

"Oh hey, Peyton. Did you want something to drink?" She rushed to get a menu, but Peyton shook her head.

"No, no; I'm here to talk." Peyton laid her dazzling green eyes on Haley's brown ones. The brunette began to put the menu back.

"You sure? We're having a chicken noodle soup special," she recited.

"It's okay," Peyton said, softly. "You get a break anytime soon?"

Behind the counter, Karen took the hint and tilted her head sharply to the left. Haley saw and wiped her hands on a kitchen rag before walking outside with Peyton.

Once they were finally on pavement, Peyton confessed. "Me and Lucas have been…well we're the reason he and Brooke aren't together anymore."

Haley rubbed her face with her hands. "Oh I knew it! He should've never dated Brooke in the first place!" She looked back at Peyton, who was painfully ashamed. Haley touched her shoulder in penitence, reassured her that she and Brooke would be okay.

Peyton shook her head in response. "No we won't. She told me today." She continued looking down, painfully guilty.

Haley held her eyes low as well, so Peyton wouldn't see the tears building up in her eyes, even though she wasn't the one who cheated on her best friend.

They both looked up at the moon, full and warm, bathing the sky in its milk. "So are you still…?" Haley asked.

Peyton's head trembled in response. "I don't know anymore." Haley threw an arm around her, and they followed into the night.

---

Nathan put Haley's hand on his heart as she slept after a long night of passionate love-making. "That's where you are Hales," he said, knowing she'd never hear it. His warmth stung in her as he stared up at the ceiling, half-thinking, half-saying. "And that's where you'll stay." He patted her hand, his eyes now attached to the slow rise and fall of her body, the long silky auburn hair he had stroked many a time, as he did now, and he rested his head against hers. The last thing he saw before he fell asleep was her beautiful closed eyes, thinking of how it would always be this way. Perfect.