Author's Note: Hey everybody! I'm back with another story! I first want to thank Ali, Othloverforever, and the other Baley authors for inspiring me to write this story. I have Chapter 2 almost done and it will be posted within a few days, by the weekend at most. I have a very busy schedule during the week, but I try to find time to write. Because of my hectic schedule, updates may not be as frequent as you like, but I will try to update as often as I can. I have a general sense of where I want to go with this story and some ideas for what is to happen so hopefully the words will come easy to me and I will be able to update a lot. I wanted to post this story when I had more chapters, but it's been a long time since I've posted a story, so I'm having review withdrawal. Please read and review! I hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I am just a poor soul who must live vicariously through my writings and those of others. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the wonderful writers at Warner Bros. Entertainment.

P.S. – I hope the writers get Lucas and Haley together SOON!

Rating: PG-13 for now, but will change to R in later chapters.

In the Presence of An Angel – Tentative title

Chapter 1

Haley's POV

I bolted upright in bed, the dream I'd just had plaguing my mind. This had been another of the many ones I'd experienced for weeks now and all about the same things. I was so confused by them; I'd asked myself over and over again why I was having these weird dreams and what they meant, but so far had come up without an answer. The dreams I'd been having were ones that most guys only dreamed about in their wildest fantasies. Yes, I was dreaming about a girl and not only just a girl, but Brooke Davis. She was the captain of the Ravens cheerleading team at Tree Hill High, and one of the most popular girls in school. Brooke had long brunette colored hair that shined and swayed with her body as she moved to whatever destination she was headed towards and she always looked so perfect, so put together. I often envied her for the air of confidence she always expressed, something I had never had.

She was the best friend of my best friend's girlfriend and also my best friend's ex-girlfriend. Hold on, let me explain this a little further so you can understand better. My best friend is Lucas Scott and I've known him since we were in diapers. Freaky, I know, that we haven't hooked up after all these years, but he is just a friend to me and nothing more. A lot of people say that friends of the opposite sex can never stay just friends, but with us its strictly a platonic relationship. Lucas' girlfriend is Peyton Sawyer, who is also my best friend, but also Brooke's best friend. Brooke and Peyton have known each other since they were eight years old when Peyton moved here because her father's boat was stationed in Tree Hill. I guess you could say that Brooke and I are friends, acquaintances in the least, because of Peyton and Luke, but I would like to hope that sometimes we're more than just that, acquaintances. Brooke and Lucas had dated for a few weeks about six months ago, but had decided that they just weren't right for each other and had a mutual breakup. Then Peyton came into the picture a few months later and she and Luke had been dating ever since.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a buzzing sound coming from that annoying thing called an alarm clock and I slammed my hand down onto it to silence the incessant noise. It was time to get up. As I showered, I tried to find the reason behind these disconcerting dreams but again came up with nothing as I had several times before. I dressed in a long sleeved pale pink v-neck shirt with a knee-length dark blue denim skirt and pair of pink flip-flops to complete my outfit. I curled my hair, giving it a slight wave and let two strands of my bangs in a spiraled curl frame my face then pulled some of my hair back into a flat barrette. As I added on my perfume and jewelry consisting of my necklace and watch, I wondered why I was getting myself so dressed up when I had nothing to be dressed up for. A nagging voice known as my conscience entered my mind as I applied a thin layer of blush to accentuate my cheekbones. 'Maybe you're dressing up for Brooke.' "Where the hell did that come from," I asked myself. I shook my head to rid it of the thought. It was probably some leftover feeling from my dream, but what kind of feeling was this?

I looked at the clock again and realized that I was going to be late for school if I didn't hurry up. I grabbed my bag and an apple from the fruit bowl in the kitchen then headed out the door and began my walk to school.

As soon as I arrived at school, I went to my locker to get the books I would need for my first two classes. Suddenly, I felt the air shift and a chill ran down my spine. I turned to look down the hallway and I saw her. She was wearing a shiny gray, silver top and a pair of black capris with gray 3-inch stiletto heels to match her shirt. A bright red shade of lipstick graced her lips and a light shiny layer of gray eye shadow had been applied to her eye lids. Students moved to the side as she walked down the hallway like Moses parting the Red Sea with that ever-present confidence and a bright smile on her face. Other girls gazed at her with envious and star-struck looks that I often did and guys stared her body up and down then whistled and cat-called. In true Brooke Davis style, she ignored the girls and sent seductive smiles towards the guys. A few dumbstruck guys dropped their binders, sending papers flying, and some tripped over other peoples' feet. She just laughed rolled her eyes at this because it usually happened every day.

My breath caught in my throat when I saw that she was heading towards me. I quickly checked my clothing and hair then pretended to be pulling out one of my textbooks when she sidled up next to my locker. "Hey Haley," Brooke greeted. A warm feeling spread through me when she spoke to me, excited that she was actually talking to me. "Hey Brooke," I smiled warmly at her then turned to pull my English textbook out of my locker. "Have you seen Peyton," she asked, looking around the hallway for her blonde curly-haired friend. The warm feeling I had felt quickly diminished. I guess I was foolish to think that she would talk to me about anything other than Peyton or Lucas. I tried to mask the hurt in my expression and my voice as I responded, "Yeah, she is having breakfast with Luke this morning at McDonald's. You know how bad the food is in the cafeteria." "Yeah," she replied, "well I have to go get my books from my locker so I'll see you later, in English?" "Definitely," I answered with a forced smile.

Brooke's POV

I walked up to Haley by her locker and greeted her. She greeted me back then turned to grab a book out of her locker. I felt a flash of hurt pass through me when she did this. It seemed that she was always a little reluctant to be around me and hardly talked to me at all even when Peyton and Lucas were around, like it was some kind of chore that she didn't want to do, but had to. To make sure she didn't see the flash of pain cross my face, I looked down the hallway behind me then asked if she'd seen Peyton. She told me that Peyton had gone to eat with Luke and made some comment about the food in the cafeteria.

I had kind of lost track of what she was saying when I started to subtly glance over her outfit. 'She looks good,' I thought to myself. But when did she not look good? She could make even the simplest combination of clothes like jeans and a t-shirt look perfect. Her hair looked good too; part of it was up in a barrette clip and two tendrils of her bangs hung down to frame her face. It was also curled into a slight wave, giving it a fuller appearance. Light pink gloss shined from her lips but her deep brown eyes, usually bright with happiness, had a cloudy, lackluster shine to them. Something was obviously wrong, but I didn't think she would open up to me since we weren't the closest of friends.

I was hurt again by this fact, that we weren't friends, but we were, sort of. Acquaintances, that was what we were. I wanted to be her friend, but every time I tried to talk to her, it seemed that she closed up and avoided me. What was so wrong with me that she didn't want to be friends, I often asked myself. I shifted my gaze back to her eyes again as if I would find some kind of answer to my questions and saw two brown eyes staring back at me. I quickly averted my gaze and cursed myself for her catching me looking at her. To avoid the discomfort setting in, I hastily said goodbye and left.

Haley's POV

I sat in English, desperately trying to pay attention, but my mind kept on wandering back to Brooke. She had said that she'd see me in English, but class had been long under way and still no sign of Brooke. I wondered what was wrong that she wouldn't come to class and didn't come up with anything. My mind brought me back to when our eyes had met and the feeling of fear that had washed over me because I had been caught looking at her, like it was some atrocious, forbidden thing to be looking at Brooke Davis.

However, that wasn't what concerned me most. The look in her eyes was what caused my confusion. What was that look and what did it mean? I had also noticed the hurt expression on her face and wondered if something was wrong. I wanted to be her friend, but was afraid to get close to her, that somehow something about my dreams would slip, that my admiration and idolization of her would shine through.

I was interrupted from my thought by my teacher, Mr. Baker, calling my name, "Ms. James?" "Y-Yes Mr. Baker," I inquired, a little disoriented from being in my own little world then harshly brought back into reality. "Would you answer the question please," he requested as he raised an eyebrow. My cheeks burned in embarrassment because I hadn't been paying attention. "Could you repeat the question please," I asked ashamedly, not looking at my teacher. I was one of his best students and here I was, not paying attention. Mr. Baker was about to reply when the bell rung to dismiss class for lunch. Kids stood and gathered their books as well as myself but the teacher called out, "Miss James, please stay after class for a few minutes. I would like to speak with you." A few of the remaining students made 'ooh'-ing sounds and some said, "You're in trouble," before exiting the room.

I made my way to my teacher's desk and waited for him to speak. "Miss James, I wanted to express my concern about your participation in class. I've noticed that the past few weeks, you don't speak out as much as you used to and today you weren't even listening to my lesson. You are one of my best students of all my English classes and it concerns me when students with such excellent grades like yourself start acting this way. Is there something that I could help you with? You know my door is always open to any student that needs help. Is it something going on at home?" I couldn't really explain what was really going on so I just went along with it, "Yeah, stuff at home. Sorry Mr. Baker, I didn't mean for it to become such a distraction for me. I'll try not to let it happen again." He placed his hand on my shoulder, which creeped me out a little, and smiled, "Remember that my door is always open if you need to talk. You can go to lunch now Miss James." I exchanged my books for my last two classes then went to sit with Luke and Peyton in the cafeteria.

Normal POV

Haley sat down beside Luke and began to eat her sandwich when Brooke walked up and sat down across from the three of them. "Hey guys," she greeted with a half-smile. "Hey Brooke," both Peyton and Lucas replied and Haley responded with a soft, "Hi." As soon as Brooke had appeared in front of them, she swallowed hard, a bite of her sandwich still in her mouth and suddenly wished she hadn't made PB&J for lunch today.

"Hales, why were you late to lunch? We waited for you, but you never came," Lucas inquired as he munched on a chip. "Mr. Baker wanted to talk to me after class about something and I kind of think he was trying to hit on me," Haley replied with a disgusted expression on her face. Lucas chuckled, "Well, I wouldn't blame him Hales, you look H-O-T-T, hot today. Tssss," He placed his index finger to her shoulder and made a sizzling sound.

Peyton punched him in the chest, "Hey, girlfriend right here." He kissed her cheek, "Sorry babe, I was just kidding. I don't think of her that way, she's just one of the guys." Haley slapped him in the back of the head, "Hey, I may play basketball with you down at the river court once in a while, but that doesn't make me 'one of the guys'. I'm still a girl you know." He rubbed the spot where she'd hit him and smirked, "Boy, do I know it. You're acting kind of mean, must be your time of the month." Haley stood up and slapped him in the head again then punched his chest and grabbed her lunch then walked off.

"Haley, wait! I was only kidding," he shouted to her, but she was already out of earshot. Both Brooke and Peyton glared at him. 'If looks could kill...' he thought. Brooke spoke up, "A word to the wiseass like yourself: never mention a woman's time of the month, especially in company, even if it is only friends." Peyton glared at him again before rising from her seat, "I'm going to go find Haley." "Me too," Brooke replied as she too got up. They both left Lucas sitting at the table to each his lunch alone.

Peyton and Brooke found Haley at one of the outside tables by herself, silently chewing on orange slices. "Hey, sorry about that idiot back there. Guys can be real jerks sometimes, some more than others," Peyton said quietly as both girls sat on either side of Haley. Haley let out a slight laugh, "Yeah, but Lucas isn't like that. He just has his moments sometimes." All three were silent for a few minutes until Haley asked, "Brooke, why weren't you in English today?" Peyton turned to her friend, "Brooke, you didn't go to first hour either. You know you can't go to cheerleading practice if you miss two of your classes."

"Oh well, I guess I won't go to practice then," Brooke replied nonchalantly. Peyton's eyes became wide that she apparently didn't care about the one thing she loved, "But Brooke, you're the captain! You have to be there to teach the girls." She answered, "So, you're co-captain and you know all the routines and moves. You can coach the girls today." "Alright, I guess I'll see you guys later. I'm gonna go find that boyfriend of mine and give him some more pieces of my mind," Peyton said as she gathered her trash and threw it away. "Okay, bye Peyt," Haley responded the same time as Brooke said, "Bye Peyt."

A few minutes after their friend left, Haley asked again, "Why weren't you in English, Brooke?" Brooke pushed her salad around with her fork and did not meet her eyes. "Um, just some stuff going on in my life, stuff at home. I couldn't handle being at school this morning." She hated lying to Haley, she really did, but no true friendship could be based on lies. 'Or do you want something else with her? Maybe something more than a friendship', her conscience asked her. Brooke shook her head slightly to try and rid her mind of that lingering thought.

"Oh, okay. Is there anything I can do to help," Haley asked. She had a sinking feeling that Brooke's disappearance had been because of what had happened at her locker that morning. "Um, I don't think so," the brunette replied as she pushed her salad around some more. Haley felt a pang in her chest when Brooke didn't want her help but placed a hand on her shoulder and responded, "Okay, but if you ever need anything, give me a call." "Thanks," Brooke said quietly and she hoped that Haley couldn't hear the shakiness in her voice. Her skin had begun to tingle at Haley's comforting touch and also hoped that Haley could not feel her skin heat up beneath her hand.

Haley began to finish her lunch and Brooke finally got the courage to look up again. Brooke noticed that some juice from the orange slices had dripped from her mouth to her chin and she subconsciously licked her lips. She picked up a napkin, "Haley, you have some juice on your face." "Where," she asked. "Here," she took the napkin she was holding and wiped her chin then the sides of her mouth. A little uncomfortable at the closeness of their bodies and Brooke's hands on her lips, Haley moved back a little bit, "Thanks."

"No problem," Brooke answered, feeling slightly saddened when Haley had pulled away. They finished their lunches in silence and after they threw the trash away, Haley reapplied her lip gloss. Brooke began to chuckle and Haley turned to her, "What's so funny?" "You," she responded, "you got some gloss right there." She pointed to a spot above her lip and laughed again. Haley rolled her eyes and sighed then smiled, "Great, that's what I get for forgetting my mirror at home." "You can use mine," Brooke said as she began to look through her purse, "shoot, mine's in my car. Come here, I'll clean it up."

Brooke took another napkin and tried to wipe the smudge off, but it only made it worse, "Ugh, let's take it all off and then I'll put it on for you." Brooke thought for a moment after she said that, 'Okay, that sounded really dirty.' Haley blushed a bright red at Brooke's words as she imagined taking off something else other than lip gloss in front of Brooke. 'Get your mind out of the gutter, James,' she instructed herself. Brooke wetted the napkin with her water bottle and cleaned off the gloss from Haley's lips then began to reapply it. "Pucker up," Brooke requested as she pursed her lips in example.

Haley did as told and almost had to hold her breath to try and avoid smelling the intoxicating strawberry scent of Brooke's hair. 'God, how do I get myself in these situations,' Haley asked herself as she felt warmth spread through her body just as it had that morning. "Oops, hold still," Brooke said as she took her thumb and wiped her bottom lip. 'What is it with me and Haley's lips? This is like the fourth time I've touched them in one day. They look so soft... I want to see how they feel, if they really are soft... I want to kiss them...' Brooke thought then abruptly pulled away. "I-I have to go. I need to get to class," Brooke said as she quickly stood and gathered her books then bolted away before Haley could answer.

Brooke's POV

I raced to the bathroom as soon as I left Haley and locked myself in one of the stalls. I was hyperventilating, not only from the mad dash, but also from the sudden realization caused by my thoughts. 'Oh my god, I like Haley! Oh my god!' I didn't know when, but somewhere along the line, I had started to see Haley in a different light. I saw her as someone who I not only wanted to be around, but to be with, as in more than friends or acquaintances. "Oh god..." I slowly slipped to the ground and hugged my knees to my chest. 'How could I like someone who doesn't even want to be friends with me, let alone feel the same as I do? What have I gotten myself into? A world of pain and heartbreak, that's what,' I told myself as I began to cry. I would just have to idly sit and watch her pursue guys and possibly find love or watch her go through the agony of experiencing her first broken heart. I sat there for the next half hour and cried before I slowly rose to my feet and cleaned up my face, now black from mascara running down my face. I then exited the bathroom and made my way to the parking lot to my car. There was no way in hell I was going to class after this life-changing revelation.

Haley's POV

I still sat at the table, stunned and confused at Brooke's hasty departure and my own thoughts. Strangely, the second time Brooke had touched my lips to wipe away some of the gloss Brooke had applied, I had actually liked it a little. Her hands were so soft and delicate, her manicured nails painted with a clear, shiny polish. I remembered feeling Brooke's hand on my cheek and smiled then placed my hand on the spot Brooke had minutes before as if to feel her hand there again. Slowly, I let my hand drift back down to my lap to join my other. 'What is going on with me? What is this that I am feeling?' I knew Brooke had made up some excuse to get away from me because the bell hadn't even rung yet, but I didn't know why. What had I done to make her leave? I also knew that I would never be able to concentrate in class with everything going on in my mind so I made my way off school grounds and walked home.