Captivated
Hi everyone!
This story I started writing for a fanfic challenge and was Charli's idea.
I don't want to spoil what's to come for anyone who's never seen this story so I'm not going to summarize the content that much. For now, understand this story is almost completely AU. It has very little to do with the show, though I strive to keep all characters intact. Be ready for adventure, drama, lust, humor and…
Rating: M for language and mature scenes, bordering on a rare T
Disclaimer: As usual. I disclaim. One Tree Hill is the property of its creators, writers, etc. I am writing this just for fun.
A lot of research for this one. I will list references later, but I give full credit to them for helping me write this story.
FF Readers: Excuse the ugly breaks in between parts. They seem to be the only ones that FF will allow.
/x\
It is the year 2009…
And there is a new president.
Research on metamorphic rock helps scientists continue to learn new helpful information about volcanoes and other such matter.
Dial up internet is a thing of the past as there is rarely to be found a home without wireless network.
The DVD and CD though still popular in some households, are starting to be replaced by the mini disc…a disc so small it will fit in a shirt pocket.
The VCR is obsolete. It's quickly becoming a gadgety little antique though.
Victoria's Secret continues to be a top company in the area of woman's lingerie, but rapidly meeting it in a challenging way is the new Angelica's Boudoir, launched just three years ago and yet already employing some of the top beautiful models.
The look is retro 40's mixed in with a bit of retro 90's…put it all together with hot 2000's and you have…style once again simply recreated.
Little silver and neon colored bags are seen everywhere now. People are buying them like crazy because they protect just about anything from heat…water…cold…etc…etc…
The top television show for teens is a simple little basketball small town show called…One Tree Hill.
Miami Heat are set to play the final game of their season, hoping to once again claim victory after a smashing season undefeated thanks to their unbreakable star player…
The dramatic movie Underneath the Sun continues to be a box office smash in it's eighth week at number one, but the new Harry Potter film is said to be something that will wow it's audience…especially with how much older that cast is looking.
There is a new type of Amphibian plane on the market called the Skydolphin…a beautiful small passenger plane that's size is impressive and its landing capabilities astonish those who see it.
Though many adults continue to pursue that special relationship, the age of safe sex has encouraged some to keep it casual while continuing to play it safe.
Scarborough Country continues to be a top draw at MSNBC, but the network is said to be looking for something new and hot to also be added to its lineup. MSNBC II, the network's lower less important, yet interesting news division, created just a year ago, continues to draw in a modest audience.
Tourism in Aruba is thriving as people enjoy the areas around the beautiful island paradises…
It is the year 2009…
And this is the story of two separate individuals who find themselves in a shocking climactic event that forces them to depend on each other.…
Two other individuals who must put aside any differences as they begin the most important mission yet of their lives…
Starring: Nathan Royal Scott: Age 26, The Star Player
Starring: Haley Lynn James: Age 24, The Restless News Woman
Co-starring: Lucas Daniel Scott: Age 29, The Intellectual Scientist
Co-starring: Brooke Amanda James: Age 27, The Model Extraordinaire
Special Guests: Dan Scott, Karen Scott, Jimmy James, Lydia James
What happens when four career minded…and/or uh…sexually extracurricular minded adults, none of them currently seeking any long term commitment, and certainly not believing in anything as silly as fate, meet in the most extraordinary of circumstances?
They become…Captivated
/x\
And now we have one of MSNBC's top roving reporters down in the convention hall. Haley, tell us how it's going down there."
"Well Joe let me just first say what an honor it is covering the 2008 Republican Convention. It is pandemonium down here Joe…just pandemonium, but the kind that just fills you with excitement. I am surrounded by cheering happy people who just know their candidate is the one to do the job. A candidate who I would like to remind all the MSNBC viewers will be appearing on my show The News Room…next Friday October 7th.
"Haley, you've got to tell me how did you manage to get this scoop? I mean there are reporters all over the country trying to get Senator Sanders on their show…even me…how did you do it Haley?"
"Well Joe…I just…I really can't tell you. I mean I don't know. I guess I was just lucky."
"OH now come on Haley, you know it takes more than luck to get Senator Sanders to sit down and talk. He moves from one place to another so fast. What an accomplishment Haley. And to think just a year ago…
" "Ha…just a year ago Joe I was covering deer in the backyard stories."
"Oh Haley….what a sense of humor! Well I want to remind my viewers that next week on Wednesday night Haley will be here in Scarborough Country with us. She'll be joining Pat and myself for some Republican convention wrap up."
"That's right Joe. Pat too…what a fun night that will be….whoa…it's getting louder in here as more entertainment excites the audience before Senator Sanders makes his speech tonight….oh I'm getting word his wife is about to come out. Well Joe…"
"Yeah, you don't have to tell me Haley. We'll talk to you later." "Okay great Joe…I'm going to go get a better view for the speech of the night!"
"Haley we need to get a better view of this."
"Hmmm…what?"
Haley James blinked with a bit of bewilderment as the camera guy dressed in jeans and an ugly avocado green t shirt rolled his eyes.
"What, were you daydreaming?"
Oh damn…it was just a dream…just another daydream. She was at the 2008 republican convention live on the Joe Scarborough show after having gotten the interview of the century…with the candidate for the presidency, Senator Sanders. He had replaced Vice President Cheney who declined for health reasons. There she was at the Republican convention…covering one of the most exciting events in news history-
"Haley…Haley…they're saying it's outside eating the garden!"
Haley lifted one eyebrow in questioning. "What's outside?"
"The deer Haley, the deer…put on your raincoat! It's pouring out there!'
Haley sighed, throwing on her raincoat over her blazer. Great…the interview of the century.
With a deer who invaded backyards.
Yeah…that was definitely Joe Scarborough headed.
/x\
"Oh look at that…ladies and gentleman just 59 seconds left on the clock. Nathan Scott has the ball and the crowd is holding their breath in suspense here… in this, the town Nathan Scott has owned for the past few years…Miami. This is the game we have all been waiting for…this is it folks. This will either bring the Miami Heat to a blazing victorious season end, the reigning NBA champions since a certain player joined them…or it will mean their defeat and the Supersonics ultimate achievement.
Okay that player…that player we're all watching…Nathan Scoring Scott has the ball…he rounds past a an unyielding defense planted in front of him…oh wow…look at that…look at that drive through the Supersonics best…he brings the ball up and it…it…IT'S GOOD EVERYBODY IT'S GOOD…Nathan Scott has scored victory for Miami once again…THIS IS AMAZING…it is utter pandemonium in here everyone…this is amazing!
With one of the most thrilling plays I have ever seen in the history of the NBA, Nathan Scott has won for the Miami Heat again. Let me tell you, if you are not here tonight in this auditorium you have just missed out on the game of the century…the game of the millennium…this is incredible…and in the Nathan Scott customary way we see him reach for that ball…the ball…the one that every kid in the auditorium would love to have…we watch him reach for it…bring it to his forehead and close his eyes.
It is a touching moment ladies and gentlemen. Such a moment before with just one flash of a second passing by, we watch the lively fun-loving Nathan Scott we all know reappear as he is surrounded by his teammates after the victory of the night…oh what a game…what a game.
This is Mouth McFadden reporting from...NATHAN SCOTT LAND…ha ha…thank you for watching…and good night!"
/x\
It is the year 2009 and little do these two strangers know… The world is about to change. As they are about to become… CAPTIVATED More to come…
/x\
Next time…
In Captivated...
"Maybe you should adopt me now and take me home since you're making me sound like I'm a sweet little poodle."
/x\
"I sense so much tension from you sometimes…so much unhappy restlessness."
/x\
"Oh right…yeah…I'll meet my Prince Charming tomorrow."
/x\
"I can't be perfect in everything."
/x\
"I know what I got into here three nights ago. I knew what I was doing."
/x\
"I'm not into ties and bonds of whatever."
/x\
All this and more to come next time…
Captivated
Chapter 1: Restless Unhappy Unfulfilled People
Warning: Somewhat Couple pairing Non NH scenes ahead that contribute to the story, nothing major or upsetting
Please remember this story is very AU. In it Nathan and Haley do not know each other. Brooke and Lucas do not know each other. Haley and Lucas don't know each other. Nathan and Brooke don't know each other. It takes place in the future, the year 2009, about early summer.
Some language in this chapter, some mature scenes/As this is a story about adults (exact ages are up with the prologue as well as full names), not teens, it will sometimes have mildly mature scenes and language. This chapter has some talk that is sexual or mature in nature, but nothing explicit.
About the people helping me:
Pat: Helped me with the basketball scenes…the minor one actually that I braved putting up last time. Basically anytime I need to learn more about basketball I go to Pat because she has such understanding and enthusiasm for it. She just really makes it come alive for me and that helps in my writing. Thanks Pat!
Becky: Helped me decide that Haley would be a newswoman. I was actually thinking of having her be a singer at first, maybe a country singer, but she came up with the newswoman idea and as I thought about it more I realized it could really add to the story. Now with most of this story mapped out in my mind…the newswoman idea has just made the story so much richer and deeper. Thanks Becky!
Erin: Helped me with something I can't talk about yet because it gives too much away, but when I can, I will explain. It's a vital part of the story. Thanks Erin!
Shannon: Listens to me talk the story out and she's just my sounding board completely on ideas and everything…she gives her own great insight and she's just so helpful. Thanks Shannon!
Ally: Has made me an amazing banner that I can't reveal yet because it gives too much away, but when I can…be prepared to be amazed. Thanks Ally! (FF readers, if you want to see the banner, go to my homepage and Captivated with the banner is there.
~~~~CaptivateD~~~~
It is now two weeks after Nathan Scott won the game for the Miami Heat. It is two weeks after Haley James was daydreaming about being on Scarborough Country.~A restaurant in downtown New York: Evening Hours~
Haley Lynn James rushed into the outside alcove of the restaurant where he was waiting for her. It was their usual table in an area that was a bit secluded. As he stood up to greet her, she moved up to her tippy toes, giving him a short kiss. Sitting down afterwards on the tapestry lined chair he pulled out for her, she started rambling a half truthful reason for her lateness, before her mind went into overdrive of the annoying story assignment she just had endured.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. I just had a very important interview."Yeah…sure…really important. Why don't you tell him all about the deer who tore up a backyard…yes another stupid deer story…seemed there was an invasion of them lately…hey Mr. Deer…so why do you like to invade backyards? Why Miss James…I enjoy invading backyards because it means you can do another crappy story. By the way Miss James…watch out for the flying mud. Stupid deer…they're supposed to be scared of people and shy away…not aggressively kick up their heels and fling mud at you. And so what does her cameraman George have to say about it…oh…don't worry Haley. We can do a swamp story…ha ha ha…
"It's fine. I haven't been waiting that long. Uh…Haley…"
"Okay…so look it really wasn't that important an interview…though uh…it definitely was a messy one. But I exaggerated when I said it was an important one…I mean it really wasn't all that important…just uh…well…I'm sorry…did you say something?"
He smiled mildly, reaching across the cloth tapestried table for her hand. "Are you thirsty? Can I get you something to drink?"
Haley stared at him quizzically before answering, feeling his fingers moving against hers. "Uh…yes…white wine…you know my usual."
"Yes…I know…" He gestured to the waiter, asking for a bottle and then smiled back at Haley, looking down at their linked hands for a moment, before looking up again.
Seeing his tense expression, Haley spoke a bit nervously. "Uh…is something wrong?"
"Wrong?"
"Yes. Wrong."
"Why do you ask?"
"You're staring at me."
He sighed, before laughing slightly, his eyes focusing on a picture that hung on the wall near their table, of a sunset ocean view.
Hearing that tense laughter, Haley questioned him directly. You didn't spend years of preparing to be a reporter without learning how to question effectively and honestly. "What is going on?"
He moved back a bit uncomfortably in his chair as the waiter returned with a bottle of wine. Pouring a glass for each, he left the table afterwards.
"Well?"
Looking at her for a moment, the man shook his head and smiled, reaching over across the table and kissing her cheek. "Nothing…nothing's wrong. Forget it. It's nothing."
Haley nodded her head, taking a drink of her wine, now also noticing the ocean view sunset picture. She rolled her eyes and looked away. She wasn't sure she believed him, but she also had so many other things on her mind. That stupid…stupid interview…a deer…a deer! What was with that? A deer…another stupid deer?! Who wanted to see an interview about a deer? No one…that was why it made the late late late news. Her segments were usually on around sometime way after 11. It never made the five o'clock hour…six o'clock hour…no primetime for her stories either. No…they were shown when the majority of the lovely states oh so united were sleeping or having sex. Both times not a good time for anyone to be watching TV. Damn…damn…damn!
"Haley…watch it."
She broke out of her concentrated over analyzing though pattern, looking down at the table and noticing a puddle of white wine laying on the tapestried table cloth now. "Ooops." Her anger about her latest story had obviously caused her to make a mess. Reaching for her deep red cloth napkin she had placed down on her pleated skirt earlier, she lifted it up now to clean the mess. "So sorry about that."
He nodded his head, but said nothing.
"Oh come on…you know what a klutz I am. I've been one since I was a baby. Did I ever tell you the story about when I was two years old and I-
He cut her off quickly. "Yes…yes you've told me. Haley-
It was her turn to cut him off quickly now as she continued to wipe at the mess she made with the spilled wine. "I just…I've been one forever. My first interview…my first real one with the county fair princess…I actually tripped on my microphone and we both went flying off the float…flying…my butt in the air and everything…it was so embarrassing. Oh my gosh…thank goodness her butt didn't go flying too because if it had, she would have really given the Brickley county people much more opening than they would have needed to see…"
Haley was recalling it now in her head as she told him the story about her most embarrassing interview. Then she had still just been in high school. She quickly learned though after that how to control the cord to the microphone. Now of course she had better manageable ones and actually sometimes didn't even need to use a microphone of course. Today she hadn't needed one…no…not to interview the invasive deer…oh no. She should have brought galoshes with her though…after the muddy mess created by that deer totally messing up the backyard.
She wondered what Bryce would have for her next. Maybe chipmunks in the bedroom? Geesh…she deserved better than these lame brained stories. She could do better. She knew she could. She would just have to let Bryce know that. She was going to show him her idea…her proposal and maybe…just maybe it would help him see…help them see…
"…so uh…I hope you can understand."
The voice bringing her out of her overboard out of control thought pattern…normal for her…Haley just stared at him…Robert.
They'd been dating now for exactly three weeks, two days, five hours, twelve minutes and uh…13 seconds. Okay…so sometimes she could be a bit obsessed with informational statistics. Sometimes. Uh…what was he saying…had his mouth been moving that whole time while she had been thinking? "Huh?"
Robert Cramer sighed. He hadn't wanted to do this here. He'd wanted to wait. But with their last few dates this had been building and building. He didn't feel it would be right to spend a lovely evening with her and then tell her…uh…his news. Better to just get it over with…right?
Yes…that was the way he was when working…just get it out…even if it was a semi crowded restaurant with the woman you had been dating for less than a month. He faced her now, seeing confusion on her face…a sometimes pleasant, sometimes anxious face. Haley James was definitely an attractive woman, despite how she sometimes dressed. She could be fun…despite how she was somewhat uptight and extremely obsessively organized. She could be very smart…uh…despite nothing. She was definitely a fine kisser…and good in bed. He'd found that out after their sixth date…the latter. She wasn't exactly the kind of woman you took home and had your way with after the first one, and he wasn't really for those kinds of relationships either actually, but by the sixth one…she'd been more than ready and it had been…satisfying. Kind of like their relationship…satisfying…and uh…restless sometimes.
Haley shook her head with a bit of embarrassment now at his question. "No…I was off in you know…dream land."
Robert sighed, knowing it all too well. He'd met her outside the courthouse one day. She was reporting on a story about two bickering neighbors and an obtrusive fence. After witnessing her petite form being knocked down by another overzealous reporter, he'd helped her get up, introduced himself, and they'd gone out for lunch. First few dates had been really enjoyable and then uh…it started happening. He'd be talking to her and she'd be a thousand miles away…probably in Scarborough country.
"Haley I think maybe…we should…well uh…slow down a bit...you know…maybe not see each other so much."
Haley frowned now at the blonde haired man whose hair was touched with just bits of beginning gray. Robert was definitely older than her, a lawyer…just a very classy great guy who uh…well…he was nice. He was definitely nice. He was good looking and uh…nice.
Okay…so nice was not thrilling. Robert was not thrilling. Okay…he was tall though. Tall was good. She liked tall. It meant she had to stand on her tippy toes. Yes…Robert was nice…and tall.
But uh…hey…
If Joe Scarborough came to her tomorrow and said Haley we want you to come live in Washington DC and join us in Scarborough Country…she would drop Robert like a limp noodle.
Wait a second…hold on…did he just say he wanted to cool it? Leaning foreward in her chair now, she pushed a hair behind her ear and spoke. "Excuse me…"
Seeing confusion, questioning, and a beginning frown come to her face, Robert continued quietly. Damn…he probably shouldn't have done this here, but with her schedule…with her sometimes obsessed work ethic, he hadn't felt he had much choice. They had taken a trip to the beach once. Her planner came too. THE planner. That thing she brought with her everywhere. Now he was a lawyer. He was very organized himself, but he had never met a woman as organized…heck…a human being as organized as Haley James. She planned out her life in that planner and even on vacation time she brought that thing with her and uh…organized.
Finding quiet time with her was just not always that easy. They both had busy schedules and well…she was scheduling even when the business day was over. Daydreaming and scheduling…that was Haley James. That was what he hadn't realized when he met her that day outside the courthouse…maybe if he had known…
"I think we should stop seeing each other Haley." He finally said what he had been really feeling…though feeling a bit guilty for it as she began to tap her fingernails on the tapestried covered table…oh dear…the tapping. Bad sign.
His declaration over, Haley tapped…tap…tap…a nervous unhappy reaction for her along with biting down on her bottom lip and shoving her hands into her sleeves. Of course the shoving action wouldn't look very good now with her wearing a light-weight three quartered sleeved blazer. And she was trying to cut down on biting her bottom lip since her big sis always told her it made your lips get desperately chapped. Chapped lips were not good. So tapping worked.
"Are you breaking up with me?"
Robert swallowed. "Uh…yes…I kind of just did."
Her nails tapped harder. "OH…really? Well…that's that I guess." She tapped even harder, averting her face. Robert didn't like when she tapped…ha ha ha.
Robert reached for her hand, stopping her tapping. "Haley look…you're a…well you're a smart, educated…wonderful woman."
Yeah…gee thanks Robert…smart…educated…wonderful…yeah great…notice you didn't say pretty…desirable…hot. Oh come on Haley you don't want to be hot. You don't care about being hot. That is such a high school term anyway. You're an adult Haley James. Yes…true, but uh…didn't mean a little being hot would hurt that much. I mean…just once being called hot. All through high school…gee Haley…you're smart…you're nice Haley…you're fun Haley, but never…man Haley…baby you're hot.OH geesh.
"Oh well thank you Robert for that lovely compliment. Maybe you should adopt me now and take me home since you're making me sound like I'm a sweet little poodle."
Robert frowned. She was an attractive and wonderful woman indeed, but she also could sometimes have a temper that bordered on vicious. He supposed he would be treated to it now. "Look Haley I didn't mean to upset you. Really, it's not that you're not…a very nice woman. You are."
"Ruff ruff…"
Robert laughed at that softly. "And we both know you have a great sense of humor."
"Oh yeah…I'm Erma Bombeck's long lost sister."
Robert laughed once more and then grew serious again. "Its just…Haley there's no real-
Haley put her hand over his mouth now, stopping him. "SPARK…yeah I get it Robert. Whereas other women are fire…I'm…a flicker. No flame…right? Gee Robert I'm surprised you still can move…that I haven't turned you into an ice sculpture. You know I am capable of that…turning men into ice sculptures with just one ICE cold kiss."
"Haley…" Robert reached across the table, gently touching her face. "You're a wonderful kisser."
"arf -arf…want me to lick your face?"
Robert laughed once more, touching Haley's face again, before bringing her in for a soft gentle kiss. Pulling back afterwards, he couldn't miss the hurt expression she was displaying now. He hadn't meant for this to happen. He really did like her…it was just…well…she wasn't what he thought she would be at first. Or what he had hoped she would be. It was just…
"Haley…really you are a wonderful…kind smart woman. It's just when I'm done with work for the day I like to be with someone who is done with work for the day too. Haley, you rarely are that. Your planner first of all..."
Haley interrupted bitterly. "Which you will see is NOT here right now." Well it was, but it was in her bag and uh…well too bad he couldn't understand she just needed her planner. It helped her feel organized. So what she had brought it with her on their short trip to the beach! It had only been to organize their day…what was so wrong with that… okay…so she had worked a little…just a little…on a proposal for a new hot exciting news show…which had promptly got turned down, but hey…she had only done it for uh…one afternoon. It had been cloudy. The beach had been cloudy that afternoon. Not much you could do when it was cloudy like that.
"I thank you for not bringing it Haley, but it's not just that."
"So I guess I don't exactly thrill you in bed."
"Haley!" Robert hissed under his breath.
"Oh come on Robert…we're both adults. We've had sex. It's not like we have to be hush hush about it. Go ahead…tell me…I don't satisfy you enough?"
He sighed. The sex actually was fine. It wasn't mind-blowing, but uh…it was fine. Maybe that was it. Maybe that was really it. Everything was just fine and well…that one last thing. That one thing that had been nudging at him from the start, but he hadn't realized how much of a problem it could become until well uh…now. "Haley…I really don't think we should be talking about that here."
"Well you think it's fine to break up with me here Robert!"
"Haley…I'm sorry. It's not about how you kiss. It's not about sex either…you're very fulfilling."
"Gosh…you sound like you're talking about your favorite dessert. Though I guess I know now I'm not it."
Hearing the bristling uptight unsettled anger in her tone, Robert felt it again…the reason why he was doing this…the deep down reason why. Something…there was just something in Haley James' life that made her…made her…
Well actually it wasn't something in her life…it was something NOT in her life more it seemed.
"Haley, it's just I sense so much tension from you sometimes…so much unhappy restlessness. There's something that's yet to happen in your life that hasn't yet and you…you're unhappy about that. You're unsettled about it."
"My goodness Robert, when did you become a shrink? How much do I owe you for the evaluation? Can I get a discount since I didn't get a couch to lie on?" She scoffed at him now. Jerk. Who was he to say there was something in her life that was leaving her unsettled and unhappy? He was a lawyer for pity's sake, not Dr. Phil.
And who was he to talk? Mr. Big Time Lawyer…taking on some of the most famous cases in the history of court room drama. Mr. Big Success. She was unsettled? Heck yeah she was unsettled…if she had to do another deer in the backyard…kitchen roaches in the food story…she was going to scream bloody murder. She was a reporter damn it…a good one and she deserved better than the crap she was always having to get for stories. All those years of school, all those years of college studying and learning and where did it get her? Here in a restaurant called Chateau Tacky with a guy who was dumping her. Ha! She should have been the one to dump him. She had been ready to…well…eventually…after…nice really just became…boring, but uh…for now nice had been good. It had been fine. It had been…pretty nice and the sex was warm and comfortable and…
Safe?
No…no…it wasn't that it was safe. She wasn't just about safe. Look at all the chances she took with her career.
And yet you can't just make that leap with a man…can you?
Shut up!
"Haley?" Robert questioned her now, seeing once more she was off in another world. He had grown a bit accustomed to it. It was part of her unsettlement it seemed.
Haley disengaged her hand from his now and started tapping it back on the table with annoyance once more. "Fine. You know what Robert…" The tapping grew louder. "It's fine…just fine, because uh see…I was coming here tonight to tell you the same thing. There's just no real…" Louder. "UMPH! With you Robert."
Her umph expression just a bit loud, Robert looked around nervously and whispered to her. "Haley a little quieter please."
Haley's eyebrows came up with annoyance. "Uh…why? They all heard you break up with ME…now they can hear me break up with YOU."
"Haley don't…its not you."
Haley scoffed. "What do you mean it's not ME? How do you even know me? You don't even consider me human…more like a…dog."
Robert shook his head. "Haley…enough. I'm sorry…I didn't mean to hurt you. Just don't do this. You're not like this. That was one thing I right away was attracted to…your kindness…your sweetness."
Haley remarked dryly. "Forgive me if I don't feel that sweet right now Robert."
"I'm sorry Haley. I really am. I shouldn't have done this here. Would you like me to take you home?"
Haley frowned. "I drove here Robert. Remember I met you here? After a long tiring crappy day at work dealing with a stupid deer! Meanwhile you probably spent half a day in your nice little office before laying around in your Jacuzzi."
"Haley I'm in the middle of a painful custody case. You know that."
Haley bit at her lip. "Oh yeah…sorry…forgot."
"Haley I'm just not the right guy for you. I'm sorry I've hurt you, but you'll see…it'll be for the better."
"Oh right…yeah…I'll meet my Prince Charming tomorrow. He'll sweep me off my feet, buy me a house in lovely Virginia…he'll buy me my own news program and we'll live happily ever after with 2.5 children and a poodle. Thank you Robert…you really did me a favor. How can I ever repay you?"
Robert sighed a bit tiredly. He had dealt with a painful case all day and Haley's mood right now wasn't helping the matter. "There is a better guy for you Haley…there really is…a special guy…he's just not me."
"Good night Robert."
Haley turned away from him now, getting up and facing the windowless wall openings on the other side that overlooked a city stream.
Sighing, Robert got up too and gently put his hands on her shoulders. "Haley…I can still buy you dinner if you want…I mean…"
"NO thank you."
"Will you be okay? Do you want me to follow you home?"
She kept her body turned away from him. "I'm not going home Robert. Not yet. But you go ahead and leave. Just…bye."
He sighed, gently reaching around her waist and kissing her cheek. Taking one more look at her, he turned away and gestured to the owner of the restaurant who was nearby and who just happened to be a friend. "Make sure she gets home safely…please."
"Sure thing Rob."
Haley bit down on her bottom lip…biting down…screw it that it would give her chapped lips… until she heard his footsteps completely depart. Steeling herself, she looked around a bit. With her head held high…she made her way to the women's bathroom. Reaching a stall she slammed the door closed and brought her face into her hands.
Life sucked.
/x\
Life rocked.
He rolled over her, moving his lips against her neck, hearing her moan and then soft giggling. It made him smirk with satisfaction. He wasn't crazy about when women giggled, but she actually had a not so annoying giggle. It went along with a very desirable body. Tall, slim, long cascading blonde hair, she was definitely a beautiful younger woman. He wasn't sure exactly how much younger she was than him. He only knew she was legal in every way. That he always checked.
Feeling the satiny gold sheets tangle more around their pressed together bodies, he sighed contentedly…his tongue moving down to her…
"Ohhh…Nathan…"
He smirked more and then frowned a bit. Oh El…damn…her name…what was her name again? Shoot…he just couldn't remember. It was nothing new. I mean…it wasn't just about her. He'd always been bad with names, remembering them. Now faces he was good with…uh…hot desirable bodies too definitely, but names…no…almost always drew up a blank with him. Damn…what was her name?
Feeling her hands moving up and down his back…tracing over his muscled athlete's body, he moved so he was underneath now, bringing her on top of him. Lifting his hands behind his head, he sighed with lazy enjoyment as her lips moved over his chest.
Mmmm…
/x\
She was lying next to him now…in the afterglow of pleasurable no strings attached sex.
He brought his hand over her back, lying beside her on his back, in the large deluxe king size bed of his master suite. "You sleeping?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No."
He smiled now too, moving her hair from the side of her face so he could see her better. "How about a trip…a nice little weekend getaway…island oasis…what do you say?"
She moved her head up slowly from the curve of his arm where she had been resting it. She gave him a questioning look and nearly gasped at...it.
Oh God…Nathan Scott was probably the finest male specimen on the planet. The man was just incredibly gorgeous. He was about four years older than her and yet he didn't look OLD at all. Of course he wasn't old…just past his mid twenties. She saw now his eyes looking deeply into hers…those blueish kind of greenish eyes. They were so piercing and always looked so deeply into people. At least she felt they looked deeply into her. But there was mischief in them too. There was that playboy in them as it was in those almost pouting full lips he had been blessed with…lips that knew just how to drive a woman crazy…and those…oh those hands…that touched every little sensitive part…
Oh wow…
He just was gorgeous.
But…
"I'm sorry. I can't."
He frowned now, moving his fingers seductively around the curve of her breast…he could seriously gaze into a woman's eyes as his hands played with their body…he'd done it many…many times. And usually…it helped him…get…well…
"Oh now come on. What do you mean you can't?"
She felt his fingers start to stroke the most sensitive part of her…oh geesh…she stirred a bit…trying to move away from him and felt his hand fall with the motion away from her body. She looked at him seriously now…trying to ignore his pouting lips. "It's just…I know what a weekend with you would mean. I know that there are a lot of women who are fine with that and I've enjoyed all of this…these three days…nights with you. But uh…"
He countered her with a seductive whisper. "Oh I've enjoyed these three nights…days too baby. Now just think how great an island getaway would be. The beach, the ocean…the bedroom…ha…might not make it past the bedroom one of those mornings, but I'm sure we could stay entertained."
She felt his lips on her neck now…his teeth nudging just a bit. She pushed at him. "And when you make out the reservations…what are you going to put for my name?"
His lips stopped, his face questioning her. "What?"
She smiled lightly now, tracing her finger over his well built yet not over built chest…perfect…just like the rest of his desirous body. Everything about him was perfect. No wonder half the female population wanted to eat him up. As it was definitely a wonder she was turning him down. Half that female population would think she was nuts.
"You don't know my name, do you?"
Nathan Royal Scott grimaced a bit, his forehead furrowing with deep lines the way it often did when he was in thought or distress. "Sure I do…it's uh…El…Elle…Ellll…" He moved his top lip over his bottom one in frustration…his white teeth peeking out.
The blonde haired woman smiled quietly, though inside her disappointment grew. "It's Ellie. My name is Ellie."
Nathan snapped his fingers with a full white flashing teethed smile. "Yeah…yeah…that's right. See Baby I was close. Look…Ellie…don't let it upset you. I've never been good with names. Never…I haven't been since I was a kid. I'm awful with them…really. It's not you. It's me. I mean…I can't be perfect in everything." He laughed now, his fingers stroking her back with assured movements that were meant to relax her, coax her and turn her on once again to much more important matters.
Ellie sighed at the feel of those oh so charming and oh so evil fingers. He knew how to use them so well, but uh…right now…she…
"I can't go away for a weekend with you Nathan." She sat up in the bed now, lifting the sheet around her breasts. "I mean I know what it will mean. It'll be just one weekend and then we'll probably never see each other again."
He shook his head, not getting up, but protesting still. "No it won't. Really…it'll be great. We'll go swimming and we can take a boat out…we can have sex…it'll be great."
She laughed slightly now, lifting the sheet away from her body and putting on her shirt that was lying on the floor, leaving it unbuttoned as she faced him. She wasn't ashamed of her body. She'd been told by plenty of guys how hot and desirable it was. After all…how else would she have ended up at a party three nights ago with Nathan Scoring Scott? Three nights ago and now the last three days they'd kind of been together. She'd like to say they'd been together, but really what it was…well…what it was…was nights of hot sex…days of a little fun…and…well…
"And after the weekend…then what? We never see each other again. Hey…I know…I know what I got into here three nights ago. I knew what I was doing."
Nathan grimaced now, his jaw clenched. "Good thing you did because I never told you it would be anything else. Look, we're both adults…I didn't tell you that we were going to-
She silenced him now, putting her hand on his mouth. "I know…I know that. I knew that. But see that's it. It's fine for about three nights like this, but anything else…going away…with a guy who can't even remember my name…my name. That's just a little much. You're a hot…gorgeous man. You're so incredibly desirable. But I just…when I go away for a weekend with a guy…I prefer he knows my name…that he actually cares about me."
"Ellie…" Nathan whispered now, bringing his hands underneath her opened shirt, bringing her down on the bed to straddle him. "I care…I just…I'm not into ties and bonds of whatever. That's just not my thing. One weekend…one fun weekend…come on Baby…"
She shook her head though, pushing his hands away and getting off the bed. "No."
Nathan's eyes rolled at the answer. Great. It wasn't like she was some virgin. What was it with women sometimes and commitment and all these…these ridiculous obligations? Why couldn't sex just be fun?
Seeing her face a bit sad now as she put on her skirt he groaned. Great…she was sad now…wonderful. Damn. He wasn't a heartless cold bastard. He meant he did care about her. I mean…if she called him tomorrow and said she had some kind of emergency he would be there…he would at least see if she was okay. He was that kind of guy that didn't just…leave a woman to fend for herself in a bad situation, but well…
Damn.
He sighed with irritation and got up off the bed now, putting on his undershorts, and then moved toward her. "Hey look…"
She stopped him, turning around and putting her hand on his bared chest, nearly fully dressed now. "Don't. Look I had a great time with you. I just…I guess I just wanted the thrill of being with Nathan Scott and now I've had it and I don't know…maybe some woman some day will be lucky enough to land your heart, but…I'd be a fool to think it could even by chance be me."
He scoffed, shaking his head at her. "Oh all that heart stuff and everything…I don't believe in that."
She smiled gently at him. "Maybe…for now. But see I do and there's this guy and he's really nice…he's really sweet and he's kind of liked me for a while and I've liked him and well…well maybe something could happen there for me. Maybe he'll see just past my body which you and a lot of other guys…can't."
Nathan stared at her for a moment, her words lancing through him a little sharply. No he did not see Ellie in any deep way…but well…uh…what she just said. He hadn't really thought of it until now, but well…it was true. It was…really true. He hadn't cared much for her mind or her…just her…
"Ellie…"
Seeing a bit of understanding actually in his eyes now, Ellie thought whoever did finally gain his heart would probably be one damn lucky woman. "I have to go."
Nathan shook his head. "No…no…you stay here and I'll find another room."
She shook her head. "No…I have a room at the Parkville. You stay here and…I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a woman who wants to go on that tropical island weekend with you."
He nodded his head, moving foreward a little. His lips found hers…his hands starting to…
Before she pushed him away. She wanted a guy who thought more than just…
She walked to the door and out of it, closing it quietly behind her.
Nathan watched and sighed. Sitting down on the bed he put his head in his hands. Great. A three night rendezvous of hot sex and fun and now she had just turned it into something more like a cheap sordid affair. I mean he didn't do that kind of stuff. He didn't go around having cheap affairs. He didn't sleep with married women. He always made sure that there was none of that baggage with it…well uh…almost always.
Okay…so there might have been a few times he hadn't really asked, but uh, hey it was their responsibility to tell him. They knew he was single…heck how could they not know? He was advertised all over the world practically…his face on this magazine and that…though he tried to reserve it so that mostly he got the interviews with the…more interesting magazines. To the annoyance of his publicist.
Well hey…look…he didn't like doing interviews at all. If he was going to have to do them, might as well make it ones that were to his advantage. And uh…well…in most of those interviews his uh…interviewers hadn't had any complaints. He made sure the interview destinations were always interesting…comfortable…and well…private.
As he liked to also make sure the interviewers were tall, blonde haired…and very female.
Damn…Ellie…shoot now he could remember her name! Ellie wasn't an interviewer though. She actually worked at a convalescent home. He bet those old dudes were grateful for her. I mean the woman was knock down dead gorgeous. She had every female asset perfectly aligned and she was so good in bed. It had really been his desire to take her away for the weekend have some fun and then after that…
Uh…after that? After he probably saw some other hot woman on the beach? Uh…what about after that?
Shoot…now he was thinking like Ellie.
Damn.
He sighed now, laying back on the bed and reaching for the remote, flipped on the TV. Probably just crap on at this late hour.
So it was true. He hadn't really thought of anything long term with Ellie. He didn't think of that with any woman. Now it wasn't like he'd grown up in some broken family. He'd grown up with parents who were passionate about each other. They'd shown him the positive sides of family life. It wasn't that. He just had never been interested in it. Love. Romance. It just wasn't him. Come on. How could he have a life like that? He spent half his time on the road going from playing court to court. When he wasn't doing that he was trying to dodge his ever loving public, annoying reporters and uh…attracting gorgeous women who were more than willing to give him whatever he asked for as long as they got to spend the night in his bed. I mean…why would he want to have something long and lasting after that? It just made no sense. Relationships like his parents were not common, especially not for someone who lived a life like he did.
Okay…but that wasn't his main reason…he simply didn't want it. There wasn't one woman he had been with who had convinced him he should even consider commitment. There just wasn't any who attracted his interest that far…who sparked in him longings for something that was everlasting. For his parents…fine. For himself…he was young, he was good looking, he had physique, money, and there was just no reason to settle with one person…no reason at all.
Flipping around the channels on the large screen LCD TV, Nathan grimaced as it seemed nothing decent was on. Stopping at one channel, he smirked as he noticed a deer in a backyard. The crap they considered news these days. Shaking his head he laughed as a woman came on, some small little petite woman who was totally unremarkable. She was actually interviewing the deer. Oh man…please. The laughter grew though when the deer kicked up its heels and flung mud at her. Oh man…that was what he wished he could do to all the reporters who would not leave him alone…good shot deer.
Grimacing once more now that his little bit of entertainment was over and the deer story was finite, Nathan turned off the TV, restless in this large room. Damn…he wanted to go away to his island oasis.
So he should go to his island oasis. So what the frickin' crap Ellie said. Well she did say he would find another woman to take with him. Damn right he would find another woman. Another couple women maybe. Nah, he wasn't into ménage a trios or multiple sex offerings. One woman at a time was enough for him. And his nickname wasn't Nathan Scoring Scott just because he was an excellent athlete. He'd find a woman…oh yeah.
He got up off the bed, putting on his clothes now.
Time to go have some fun. First though…he checked his cell phone…hmmm…five messages from Joanne, his publicist.
Oh well. He'd get back to them later.
Probably nothing important.
/x\~~A New York City Loft: The Next Day: Evening Hours~~
"Ohhhh…Pierre…"
Oh…gag me.
"I see you tomorrow night?"
"Oh yes…wee…wee wee…"
Gosh sis…he's going to think you have to go to the bathroom.
"Wee wee wee…"
Haley scrunched up her nose with distaste as she heard the loud smacking kisses he gave her…damn couldn't her sister find a guy who didn't kiss in stereo sound?
With a sigh she put down the lightly patterned planner she'd just been writing in and waited…
"Night…night"
"Night…night…"
Brooke Amanda James closed the door, putting down her bags and licking her lips for a second before stopping herself. Licking your lips could lead to chapped lips…not good. Turning around from the sliverish painted door she stopped as she noticed her sister sitting on their deep red plush couch in their living room. "Hales!"
Haley got up as her sister ran over to her and gave her a hug of greeting.
"Hi Brookes…" Haley hugged her sister back, breathing in the exotic scent she was used to. Her sister always smelled that way…exotic. She looked…exotic. She was…exotic. But…she was also her sister. Her big sister.
"So how was your trip? You and Pierre have a good time?"
Brooke licked her lips happily before remembering that it could chap her lips. "Yes, but you know…it still was all work related. I had a lot to do."
Haley nodded her head with a wry expression to her sister's whispery, yet trying to sound oh so ultra serious voice. Oh yeah…plenty to do…right. Brooke was a model who worked for Angelica's Boudoir. Angelica's Boudoir was the newest little sophisticated retail establishment for ladies lingerie. It already was proving to be some hefty competition for the well known Victoria's Secret. After years of odd jobs here and there, one year at the competition, Victoria's Secret, Brooke had landed the job at Angelica's just about two years ago, and now she was one of the top lingerie models…her face…and other perfect features…regularly shown to the world on the net and on TV.
Now Haley knew modeling wasn't always as glamorous as it may seem, but still she considered her big sister's job much more cushiony than her own. It wasn't like she was having to interview deer in mud swamps.
Plus…there was Pierre. Pierre was one of the heads of Angelica's. Dating him, Brooke was sure to receive special perks. Haley just had to wonder how long it would last, their dating. Her sister's relationships rarely survived the one month mark. As Brooke put it…she just simply got bored after a while. Now Pierre had something in his favor…he was foreign. Brooke loved foreign men. But still…if he thought he would last longer than this little trip to the paradise of Palm Springs…he was probably in for a rude awakening. Haley had little doubt Brooke would find something more appealing soon. After all…she was almost at three weeks with Pierre. That was a long time…according to Brooke James dating etiquette.
Brooke grinned at her sister now as she pulled away from her, not having any idea what thoughts were going on in her little sister's head. She took in her sister's appearance, her smile growing a bit more subdued. Haley was pretty, but unfortunately she only wore small dabs of makeup, and almost always wore her hair up in a bun or back in clips. She dressed in blazers and blouses, short sleeved ones, long sleeved ones, and skirts that covered more leg than need be…or were simply unflattering to her petite figure. It was such a shame considering Haley had ample cleavage and nice legs to show off a bit if she would just…let loose a little.
Brooke reached into one of her luggage bags now she had carried in, and took out a small lavender pinkish bag out of it with the name…Angelica's on it. "I have something for you…"
Haley nodded her head, sitting back down on the red couch with a sigh. Oh she bet she had something. Brooke often brought home the extras she would acquire from work.
Lounging against the back of the couch now, Haley lifted her stocking legs onto it. She was a mixture of soft colors while the room she was sitting in was mostly dramatically modernly decorated. Since most of the loft had been paid for by her big sister, almost the entire apartment had the mark of Brooke James decorating flair. The front room with its reds and silvers….the kitchen with silver and deep coffee…the hallways with bits of deep purple…just colors full of depth and strength all over the place…modern furniture spread out everywhere. Only Haley's room was quite different from the rest of the loft since that Haley had designed herself. It's gentle soft shades of green and lavender displayed clearly the differences in the two girls decorating styles. Still, they cohabitated in their shared dwelling mostly peacefully, and some compromises had been reached in almost every room. Glimpses of Haley's touch on decorating the place were somewhat evident in softer coloring spread throughout.
"Here…wear these next time you're with Robert and you're guaranteed to have one hot night."
Haley rolled her eyes and looked inside the bag that her sister had just handed to her. Flicking her brown eyes at Brooke for a second, she reached inside and took out lavender bikini underwear and a matching bra…delicately lined with lace…satin…and shimmery clear layering. "The latest rejects of Angelica's?"
Brooke snickered. "You always call them rejects! They're not that…they're extras."
Haley grumbled, letting the underwear fall to the red sofa as she got up and headed to the kitchen. "Same difference Brookes."
Now sitting down on the sofa herself, Brooke called back to her little sister. "Extras…and I bet Robert will love them. Get me a cherry cola Babe."
"Uh…find a waitress."
"Don't be a witch to your older sister."
Haley replied to that remark as she got their drinks ready, taking a bottle of cherry cola out of their refrigerator and bringing down some glasses from the cabinets. "You may be older, but I'm the mature one."
"Too mature. You need to lighten up and have more fun." Brooke called to her sister, shaking the underwear in her hand and whisper singing… "Sexy underwear…guaranteed to give you a sexy sex filled night…ha ha! Come on Halo, you know you love it!"
Haley returned to the room with the cherry cola filled glasses now, putting them down on the glass silver lined table that sat in their living room in front of the red sofa. Handing the first glass to Brooke, and taking the second one for herself, she sat down in a black chair that sat diagonally across from the sofa. A grimace came to her face as she responded to her sister's earlier annoying nickname that she had bestowed upon her when they were just kids and Haley had proven to be the…uh…better listening one when it came to following parental rules.
"Don't call me Halo. You know I hate that."
Brooke picked up the lavender lingerie again, flashing it at her sister. "I know…I just like to get on your nerves little much too mature sister of mine. And I know Robert is going to love this set." She held up the lingerie with a charming smile and whispery voice.
"Robert won't be seeing it because we broke up."
"Oh Babe…I'm so glad you dumped him!" Brooke made the remark, nonchalantly taking a drink of her cherry cola, putting her glass down on the table, and then leisurely sitting back on the red sofa.
Haley sat up now, shaking her head at her sister. "Brooke…you were just raving about how much he would enjoy your gift of cheap floozy underwear. Now you're saying you're happy I got rid of him. Oh and by the way, he dumped me. I didn't give him enough in bed."
"Oh my God, that Asshole said that to you?"
Haley sighed. "No...I'm exaggerating…okay I'm technically in a news-sense stretching the truth. But he was talking about me like I was a poodle. Why would he do that Brooke? I mean you have hair more like a poodle than me."
"I do not!" Brooke gestured now to her long brownish red locks that reached the middle of her back. Touched with shots of curly natural waves they just added to her exotic appearance.
Of course the thin strapped short skirted red dress she was wearing that nearly was identical to the couch helped with that too. From the time they had been little girls, Brooke had loved playing dress up and striking poses here and there. Now that she was a model, she knew just the right poses to strike, that made men salivate, and she knew just the right clothes to wear, that made them approach her so they could find out what was underneath those clothes. It annoyed Haley sometimes…how Brooke could land a guy in any setting...within a few minutes. All she had to do was walk into a room and guys just turned around to look at her. It was annoying…okay…well it had been annoying when they were younger. Now Haley simply accepted it. Brooke was the beautiful exotic desirable one. She was the smart, sweet…uh organized one.
Thinking of organized…
"And of course he brought up the planner…I took it with us on one stupid trip-
Brooke stared at her little sister with shock now, holding her drink halfway raised to her lips. "Oh Hales…you didn't! The planner?! That thing is code for no fun…that thing is just…uh…legal…or illegal…or uh…"
Haley rolled her eyes. Brooke was beautiful and attracted men easily, but she wasn't always the smartest one and her use of words was uh…interesting. "Lethal Brooke…you mean lethal."
Brooke waved her hand in dismissal. "Yeah…whatever…anyway…Halo…HALES…how could you take that thing with you?"
Haley rolled her eyes…laying her head on one of their silver and red couch pillows. "I don't know what's such a big deal about it. I just thought it would be nice if we had all of our itinerary carefully planned."
Brooke shook her head at her sister with disbelief. All through school, all the time growing up, Haley had always had some kind of planner or another. The girl was so ultra organized it scared their own parents. It was ridiculous. "Babe that thing is a total romance killer. Big mistake to take it on your trip, though Robert isn't what I would call too high in the romance department…too senior citizenish."
Pushing her blazer sleeve now over her hand on one side, the other side of her blazer falling off her shoulder, Haley pouted almost like a little girl, ignoring her sister's final remark. "That was the weekend before I wanted to submit my proposal to Bryce. I had to take it with me."
"Halo you're submitting proposals to Bryce nearly every Monday."
"Thirty-six Mondays to be exact, last one delivered at exactly nine thirty five AM in the morning."
Brooke's eyes widened at her sister's quick memory retrieval of oh so unimportant information. "Babe you're just scary sometimes! Now you're sounding like the Drizzle Man."
Drizzle Man? It took Haley a moment before she rolled her eyes and corrected her sister. "RAINMAN Brookes!"
"Whatever!"
Haley grimaced now, putting her head down. "Great…now you're saying I scared Robert away. Not once did he call me hot, but I had no problem scaring him…into hiding."
Brooke sighed, getting off the couch and going to sit on the wide arm of the lounging chair Haley was sitting in. Putting her arms around her sister, she fell down the chair a bit, tipping the chair backward for a short precarious moment.
"Brookes!" Haley protested with a wild laugh.
Brooke laughed now too, bringing her head against her little sister's. Haley was so smart, organized and planned out, it really was almost scary. What came along with it though was something not enough people saw…she had the sweetest little heart and she was definitely a lot more vulnerable than she appeared. She was her little sister, her only sister and sibling. And she was protective of her. "I'm sorry Halo things didn't work out with Robert the boring lawyers, but hey…just think of what new prophets can come now!"
"PROSPECTS Brooke!"
"Whatever!"
Haley rolled her eyes and hugged her sister back, but stuck her tongue out at her at the halo remark. "What new…prospects? The only new prospects I'm pursuing are work related ones…preparing new proposals of-
"Haley!" Brooke called out now with protest.
Sighing, Haley got up from the chair, lightly pushing her sister away and beginning a furious rant as she walked in one big circle around the living room. "I should have just stuck to finding the perfect news show proposal anyway. I wasted my time going out with Robert. No more. No more guys…I'm going to be like Renee Zellweger in that movie Down With Love…that's me…I'm down with love. Not that love was ever going to come with Robert anyway. He called me restless…you know that. He said there was something missing in my life. The guy's a fricking lawyer, not Dr. Phil. I told him that. I told him he was not Dr. Phil. He was trying to sound so worldly…so what…so big deal what he's about eight years older than me…that doesn't make him some expert on relationships. He wasn't even that great at…well…uh…and I'm down with that too. I'm down with sex…love…sex…men…just no more. The only man I care about now is Joe and that's only in a business sense."
Having followed her sister all the way around the entire room as she made her long circle around it, Brooke now finally stopped as Haley finally stopped too, sitting back down on the red couch…actually, mostly falling upon it onto her back. Falling too onto her back, Brooke's top of her head touched Haley's. "Hales no one rants like you."
Haley grinned at that. "I know…I'm a pro."
"But half of what you just said was just a bunch of BS…Hales you can't give up sex…SEX?! How can you even think of giving up such a thing…and men. Oh Haley, your problem is you worry about work too much. And Robert didn't help you with that at all. Okay…forget Robert…he's a bad breed of men and his blonde hair was turning into an ugly balding man receding hairline anyway."
Haley giggled at that. "It was getting a little thin in front…oh snap!"
"Okay so we agree…Robert the boring lawyer is a thing of the past."
"Oh so blasé…yesterday's news!"
"Good…then you'll let me set you up with Marco."
/x\
~~Miami: A Deluxe Beach House~~
"Oh well look who's back from his female specimen scavenger hunt, and early too. Wow…what a definite first!"
Nathan rolled his eyes, dumping his luggage in the hallway that led to the room the voice came from. Walking into the room, he scrunched up his face at what was going on. His brother had about a dozen different rocks that he seemed to be doing something or the other with. There was a microscope and all these weird rock…uh…working tools on the large counter he was working at…in this, his own personal lab room…boringly decorated with beige colored walls. He knew each one, rock, had its own unique name, but those titles didn't really concern him. He watched for a minute as his blonde haired brother, dressed in a beige lab coat, brought another rock underneath the microscope, his attention rapt by whatever he was doing. What the heck he found so fascinating about a bunch of rocks Nathan hadn't been able to figure out since they were kids, and his big brother started collecting every type of rock possible instead of baseball cards and Gameboy games.
"So what happened…you failed to get the last item on your hunt?"
"Hey, I'm only back to get a few things…consider me not even here. Now why don't you shut up and get away from those stupid rocks before you go senile enough to start talking to them."
Lucas Daniel Scott laughed. "Ha…but I already do." He picked up a lunar rock with a large smile on his face and started conversing with it. "Hey Seymour…this is Nathan, my little ego inhabited basketball star of a brother. Everywhere people adore him, they worship him, women even take off their bras for him, but I don't…uh worship him…don't even consider me in any relation to the bra statement. Because you see I'm his older brother who had to live one year in the same room with him while the parents decided to extend the house and trust me it was a nightmarish year…so even though there are those who will bow down and hail all kinds of greetings upon him…he knows that when he comes home he will get no such crap from me because I know the real deal…he's an annoying pain in the ass." Lucas grinned at his brother maniacally now, posing with the rock in his hand.
"That's it…I'm getting on the phone to the sanitarium."
Lucas laughed. "Ah Lil Bro…come here and give your big bro a hug!" He put the rock down and raised his arms for his little brother.
Nathan snickered almost like they had when they'd been kids, but walked forward anyway to hug his one and only brother.
With a bit of wryness, but also beginning smiles, the men hugged each other warmly before slapping each other on the back and quickly stepping away from it. Too much brotherly love was overkill for both. Plus Nathan had only been gone for a couple of weeks. It was his usual post game celebratory screw fest, as Lucas liked to call it, after the season was over. It normally lasted about three weeks or a month though. They had started two years after Nathan began playing pro while still living in Chicago and playing with the Bulls. Moving to Florida had only increased the level of the fun factor…the beach habitat adding to the wild parties in regular occurrence at 25763 Seagrass Lane after two said bachelors bought it about two years ago, one a sport hero, the other, a petrologist, who was also quite adept at the field of mineralogy.
Together they walked out to the living room now, a room that was drastically opposite the simple almost bland looking lab, Lucas worked in. Deep blues covered the walls along with a touch of black here and there. The furniture was sporadically spread around the vast room, a placed in the wall 50" LCD screen the main focal point. This room was more of Nathan's design and put together with much of his money. Lucas wasn't exactly in the poor department, but because so much of his funds he received were used in his field of study, rocks and minerals, he wasn't one to spend much on anything, but the practical…concerning his job. He had gone so far with the house to help pay for it, get his lab built, and make sure his bedroom was to his own specifications, including that it was mostly soundproof for when Nathan had one of his parties and he didn't feel like or couldn't participate. The rest of the house he had left to Nathan, which Nathan had quickly taken advantage of by making every room his favorite color and such. Like the kitchen…that was red…red and black. The morning he'd woken up to see the new paint color of the previously mint green kitchen had been an eye startling one for Lucas. He'd nearly spit out the milk he had sleepily poured into a glass as it hit him…their kitchen was red…BRIGHT RED…and black. With silver appliances.
Oh man…at least after his mom had come to visit and said she refused to cook a single thing in that heart attack inducing kitchen (their mom was one fantastic cook) Nathan had toned down the red some with a color that was still red, but a little…less red… and added an inspiring black and gray…with hints of red…granite counter top.
Lucas sat down in a black leather chair now as Nathan sat down on the sueded blue couch. "So what do you mean you're only back temporarily?"
Nathan reached out, scooting a black ottoman over that he laid his feet down upon as he grabbed the remote. "Just what I said…I'm only back to get a few things before I'm off to Aruba."
Lucas groaned, his eyebrows coming up. "Aruba?"
Nathan grinned, not looking at Lucas as he flipped the channels lazily on the remote. "Yeah…I just wanted to come back tonight, sleep in my own bed…before I'm off again tomorrow."
"Ahhh…another screwing expedition…"
Nathan frowned at his brother's dry remark. "Better than screwing around with rocks. At least what I'm plastering my hands all over has soft curves and everything…what you fondle has rough edges, is cold-
Lucas jumped on that right away, more than happy to display his intelligence and education on…rocks. "Oh wrong there little brother…there are plenty of rocks that can get way hotter than your body temperature even post sex."
"Oh that one's debatable. And screw metamorphic rock."
"Not only metamorphic rock Nate."
Nathan sat up on the sofa now, a glint of excitement touching his face.
Lucas dreaded that look…it usually meant his brother was thinking of some idea which was a very scary thought.
"Luke…you should come with me!"
Oh yes…scary indeed.
/x\
"Huh?" Haley turned her head to see her sister's face now from her lying down position. Raising her eyebrows quizzically, she questioned her with confusion. "What are you talking about Brookes?"
"Marco…he's Pierre's cousin. And he's gorgeous from what I've seen of him. I have pictures and the man is just…oh…he's hot with a capital H. Hot hot hot. You need to meet-
Haley put up her hand now, all her earlier joviality gone. "Not going to happen Brooke."
Brooke sat up, frowning at her sister. "And why not? I'm setting you up with a gorgeous guy and you'll be with Pierre and me…for safelocking."
"KEEPING BROOKES…and you haven't been dating Pierre that long…well a lifetime for you, but uh anyway…how can you even know him that much in the first place to know that he is safe? And he has a cousin named Marco? What are they…from every continent of the world?"
"Not funny…they're very multi…uh…cultivated."
Haley rolled her eyes. "Cultured Brooke…you mean cultured."
"Oh yeah…well that thingy…anyway you know how gorgeous Pierre is!"
Haley responded to her sister's energetic declaration with little enthusiasm. "He's all right."
"Halo!"
"Don't call me that!
rrrrrrinngggg…
Hearing the sound of the phone, Brooke ran to get it from where it sat on the counter near the kitchen. "Oh that must be Pierre…now his cousin might already be at his place…he's visiting for a while, so if he's there I'll let you talk to him…oh goody!"
"No Brooke-
Haley started out, but her sister had already grabbed the phone with a seducing smile on her face. "Helllo…"
Haley shook her head in amazement at how her sister could make a simple word like hello sound X-rated. But then she noticed how her sister's smile faded and a bored annoyed look took over. Oh boy must be…oh no…what now? Another wild deer story…maybe roach motel? Great!
"Yeah…Hi Bryce. Yeah…she's here." Brooke held out the phone to Haley with a grimacing expression. "Gosh doesn't the guy believe in the importance of a social life…I mean he thinks news twenty four hours a day and night…no wonder he's not married or anything else for that matter."
Haley smirked at her sister and picked up the phone. "Yeah Bryce?...what?" Haley stopped speaking for a moment now, her hand covering the lower part of the phone as she let out a wild scream. "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!"
Then letting out a breath…she calmly spoke into the phone again. "Oh yes…yes that is definitely something that will work for me."
Her sister's excited voice making her feel excited too, Brooke was now standing in front of Haley, wildly signaling for her to tell her what was going on. "Tell me tell me tell me tell me…!"
Haley signaled to her sister to shut up and spoke calmly again. "I'm sorry Bryce…can you hold on for just one moment…I um…I need to change phones. The connection on this one is a little…loud with static."
"What what what?!"
Haley put down the phone now…her hand over it, a grin mounting to her face.
"WHAT?!"
"Oh nothing…I'm just going to be doing a story for…it…the BIG one…not the little division…your sister, Haley Lynn James is going to be doing a story for MSNBC!!!!!"
Brooke quizzically raised her eyebrows at that. "But you already work for MSNBC."
Haley sighed. Oh geesh… "NO Brooke…see I work for their lower division…that small little one with less important news like…
"Moose in kitchens!"
Haley shook her head. Okay…if they ever gave her a story with a moose in a kitchen…
"A MOOSE IN A KITCHEN, BROOKE?!"
"Well…you do all those deer stories."
"Trust me SIS…a moose story is a big difference. But see…this will not be for that little news division. I get to do it for the big division. The big MSNBC…you know…Joe and all!"
"That's the big network that you want to work for right? I mean you know me Hales…I don't watch news…unless you're on. I've probably seen every deer story on TV since you do them all."
Haley rolled her eyes. "Probably have…now as I was saying…your sister…Haley Lynn James is going to be doing a story for MSNBC…and your reaction is…" Haley gestured to her older sister with encouraged enthusiasm. She knew Brooke definitely did not regularly watch the news…hardly ever so she didn't know that much about the differences between the lower division of MSNBC and the higher one, but uh…hey…with a little sisterly encouragement…
"AHHHHH!!!"
The two girls jumped up and down now hugging profusely, dancing around in a circle and exclaiming wildly before Haley put on a serious face and calmly spoke into the phone again…ignoring her giggling giddy sister. "Thank you Bryce…I think this connection is better…uh…loud noise…oh I'm not sure where it was coming from…yeah I think we were having some weird third party interference, but everything's fine now…yes…yes…yes…huh?"
Brooke questioned her sister as the happiness seemed to leave Haley's face and a look of bewilderment replaced it.
"What…what is it?"
/x\
Lucas stared at his grinning little brother now. Was he crazy? He couldn't go away. He had way too much to do.
"To Aruba!?"
"Yeah…come on!"
Lucas shook his head as his brother continued to flip through the channels of the LCD monitor. "I don't think so Nate."
Nathan scoffed, impatient with the lack of what was on TV…TV…he'd never get used to calling this thing in the wall a monitor…and not easily accepting his brother's answer. "Oh come on Luke…what else do you have to do?"
"Hmmm…let's see…tomorrow I have a lecture at Florida International in the morning and then I have a fellow associate of mine coming in a few days…just back from a trip who wants to talk to me about his findings and then I-
"Okay okay!" Nathan put up his hand now to stop his brother's words. "I get it…you're busy."
Lucas smiled with satisfaction. "Yes…very."
Nathan smiled back impishly now. "Which is why you need a vacation on the wild exotic beaches of Aruba and the surrounding areas…it'll be great Luke…exploring the culture there."
Lucas sighed, taking off his lab coat now to reveal a dark green short sleeved button down shirt. "I already know what kind of culture you like to explore and I've been around the island area of Aruba…found an amazing variety of Chalcocite there and-
"LUKE!" Nathan yelled out with exasperation now, slamming down the remote. "Enough with your stupid rocks! Lucas man you've got to get out more…when was the last time you were on a date big brother…when?"
"I go out on dates."
"Rarely. We'll have a great time in Aruba…we can start out going to the clubs and night spots, find some of the HOT island flavor, and then separate and enjoy that island flavor in some rented bungalows."
Lucas peered at his brother now with a questioning curious face. "What happened to her Nathan…that woman you hooked up with just recently...Last time you called you were having fun with her."
Nathan frowned now. "It didn't work out."
Noticing something strange in his brother's voice, Lucas didn't let the subject go. "Well it sounded out like it was working out fine last time we talked. Didn't you ask her to go to Aruba with you?"
Nathan's angered face now turned to a full annoyed grimace. "She told me she had other plans or something…that there was another guy somewhere in the works…"
"Oh…" Lucas replied calmly. He knew his little brother.
Five… Four… Three… Two… One…
"No…that's not the whole thing…you know what she said…you know what she said to me?!"
Just like clockwork.
"No Nate…what did she say to you?" A voice of calm again, the one thing that impelled his brother to go on and not shut up.
"She said that if we went away for a weekend she knew what it would mean…a one time thing…and then I'd dump her…she said that to me!"
"Wow…the nerve of her."
Nathan ignored his brother's dry answer, set on his own thoughts now. He was doubly annoyed that that same night when he had tried to find some other…willing women or fun women…to go to the island with him, all he had been able to find was a bunch of more teeny bopperish ones or women who had other problematic things about them…lately it was getting harder to find women more his own age who really…interested him. "I mean…yeah it's true, it probably wouldn't last beyond that island jaunt, but uh…hey…she made me sound like some gigolo that just goes around having affairs with one woman after another."
Which…you basically a
e most of the time. "What a horrible thing to make you sound like."
"Yeah! I mean, I don't have affairs with married women! You know that Luke…I'm not like that!"
True…that was true. No snide remark needed for that one.
"That night I went to all the clubs around and I was looking around for the different flavors, but uh…damn, I just, I couldn't focus. She upset it all. She made me sound like some…"
"Gigolo."
"Yeah, gigolo! And I'm not that Luke…what if I want to maybe sometime have more than just an island fling?"
Lucas smiled now, speaking to his brother in an even tone. "You're restless."
"What?"
"You're restless. She spurred something inside you."
"Look if you're suggesting she and I would be more than-
Lucas shook his head. "I'm suggesting nothing of the kind Nathan. I know that was just a fling. I am saying you're restless. Maybe this playboy lifestyle is starting to bore you…maybe you're-
"Oh man…you need to go out more!"
Lucas sighed now. Yes, he didn't date much. But it was mostly his work. Well, okay there had been a few messed up relationships that hadn't made him crazy about dating, but he did like delving in his work. He knew there were those, including his brother, who thought it was weird, but too bad. Plus his brother could do with learning a little more responsibility. "Joanne called. She needs you to call back…she left a dozen messages…about some appearances she hopes you will make and some interview you're supposed to be doing…very soon."
Nathan sat back down on the chair now with a bored look. "Where are these appearances?"
Uh...a couple of mall things…a fair…and uh…a hospital."
Nathan shook his head quickly in answer. "No way…I don't do hospital crap anymore. I'll think about the fair and the malls."
Lucas sighed. "You haven't done a hospital thing since we moved to Miami Nate. It's a hospital for kids."
"And your point is?"
Lucas laughed dryly now, grimacing at his brother's coldness. "Just that you are Nathan Scott, number 23, the amazing player of the Miami Heat and yet you can't take time out of your fricking busy schedule to visit a few sick kids who worship and adore you? It's selfish Nathan!"
"You know why I don't do the hospital thing anymore so just shut up about it, okay?"
Lucas ignored his brother's dangerous look in his eyes. There was nothing his brother could do to make him completely back off and be intimidated by him. He was his little brother. "It was one time Nathan…just one time."
"And it was enough….ohhhhh…I love this commercial!"
Lucas's look was one of exasperation. It was coming from Nathan's publicist too…exasperation. She was saying she needed him to do more…to give back to the fans a little more. It was hard trying to explain to her how set in his ways Nathan could be…though he didn't have to explain to her his brother's near hatred for the bulk of the press…she knew that well.
"Work it baby…work…damn, Victoria's has nothing on Angelica's anymore. Look at these babes Luke…look how hot they are…"
Lucas frowned at the commercial playing on the LCD now, one from Angelica's Boudoir…noticing the gorgeous dark brown reddish haired one he smiled a bit without realizing it though. Now she was sort of, but uh…well…anyway…
"I think you better check your messages Nate…see when this interview is for. It sounds like Joanne told you about it before…it sounds important."
"Better be after my trip."
Lucas sighed.
The commercial was over now and his brother was stalking to his bedroom to get his messages.
/x\
"But you told me I would be-but…but I can't…I mean…what? No…I'm not saying that…yes…yes…Bryce you don't understand-I…but this isn't…I don't even know that much about-yes…yes I understand. Yes…right…I will…yeah…okay…bye."
Glaring at the phone now, Haley added…"Thanks a lot…for nothing!"
"AAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! The nerve of that man…telling me…you don't have a choice…you do what I say…ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh…who does he think is…who does he think he is…your boss…your boss…that's who he thinks he is Haley…yeah…so when he tells you to jump into the ring of fire he expects you to do just that…jump into the frickin' ring of fire…domineering superfluous arrogant-
"Don't you mean superfacial?" Brooke easily interrupted as she followed her sister on another circular rant around the room.
Haley paused for a moment, her eyebrows raised as she corrected her sister. "SuperfIcial, but yeah…that too! OHHHHHHHH!"
Brooke stared at her sister with questioning now that she had finally stopped her circular rant. "Hales, what has got you so riled up?! I mean…one minute you were all excited about finally getting to do a story for your MSNBC and then the next you're putting down your boss…which I can do beautifully for you by the way since the guy needs a life outside of work."
Haley finally sat down on the red couch, her face in her hands. "I can't believe this…I can't believe he's making me do this. My first real interview and it's with…with-
"With who?" Brooke asked wildly, sitting down next to her sister.
"HIM!" Haley pointed to the TV screen. She had reached for the remote and turned the set on and all of the sudden…there was his face.
Brooke's mouth widened to a long rounded O. "OH MY GOD YOU'RE INTERVIEWING NATHAN SCORING SCOTT!! AHHHHHH!"
Haley turned away from the TV of the dancing daring player and frowned at her sister's excitement. "Shut up. You're a model. You shouldn't be enthused by him. No one should be. I'm not. I'm definitely not!"
"But Halo it's your first real story!"
Haley exploded now. "And it's with a FRICKING SPORTS HERO Brooke! Have you read the magazines…you know what he does…you know what he actually does?"
Brooke grinned now. "Yeah…he signs women's bras."
"UGH! Yes, he does that and it's not good…it's disgusting…I bet half of them are even IN them at the time he does it…he's a whoremaster who refuses to do interviews most of the time and when do we ever see him making kind charitable appearances, huh? When do we see him talking about something of substance instead of his latest whoring round? When is he on a magazine of substance instead of COME and Playgirl?"
Brooke shook her head. "I don't think he's done Playgirl yet."
"Oh well just give him time Brooke…give him time! I can't even believe he's agreeing to do this interview…the jerk asshole never does interviews unless they add to his downstairs physical satisfaction I bet!"
/x\
"OH no way…no way…this stupid interview…it's for tomorrow afternoon Luke. I'm not doing it. I'm going to Aruba."
Lucas watched now with bored disinterest as his brother came back into the room, ranting about the interview.
"Shoot…well then you better call and let the station know that Nathan."
"I'm not going to call…let them figure it out…they can plan their stupid interview all they want, but I won't be there. I don't even care that it will be with that hot blonde on their news program…I'm not doing it. I'm not missing my trip. I'm going to Aruba."
"Oh boy…"
Lucas sighed.
"One more chance Luke…you coming?"
Lucas shook his head and left his brother alone in the room with a pointed sentence. "No. I actually honor and respect my obligations."
/x\
"Now look Hales, I know you're not crazy about doing some interview with an amazing basketball player who is just too gorgeous and why you're not crazy about it I don't know, but hey…this is your chance. This is your chance to show Bryce and all the other important people out there just how good you are. You have to do this interview!"
Haley protested now. "I shouldn't have to show anyone anything! And this is not an interview…this is a joke!"
"Haley!"
"No Brooke!" Haley pointed her finger at her sister now with anger that she was having to do such a ridiculous interview…such an embarrassing one. For years she had tried to get everyone to see the important newswoman she could be. She'd paid her dues with all these stupid deer, roach, and bickering neighbor stories and this was how she got repaid? It just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all.
Exasperated Brooke spoke firmly to her sister now. Though Haley was definitely the smarter one, she was also the more ambitious one who right now was complaining about something that Brooke believed her sister had little reason to be complaining about. "Haley I think you're being reticulous!"
Haley rolled her eyes. "RIDICULOUS Brooke! And I'm being ridiculous…I'm being ridiculous?! How am I being ridiculous? I have to interview a stupid inane whore master!"
Brooke continued angrily. "Yes…you're being ridiculous! And why do you call him that? You don't know what he is! Haley what if you actually enjoy doing this interview?"
"I KNOW I will not enjoy it!"
"But you haven't even done it yet Haley! I just don't see what you're constraining…oh shoot complaining about! You have always wanted to do a major interview. Well now here's your chance…and you're going to blow it because you think the guy is a CHORE master!"
"WHORE master Brooke! He's a whore master! And I didn't say I was going to BLOW this interview! I have to do this interview! Bryce told me I had to or it would be deer in the backyard stories for the rest of my life…he told me that…that arrogant SOB…And all this is so easy for you to say! You have some cushy job at Angelicas!"
Brooke took offense to that right away. "It's not cushy Haley! You should know that. I worked hard to get to Angelica's. And I kissed plenty of squids to get there…or fish or whatever the heck they are. I modeled in every ugly attire I was told to do so to become a model at Angelica's. And I'll tell you Haley James if I was a reporter like you and I wanted to reach the top I would be damn happy about getting some interview like this! I would be!" Brooke watched as her sister turned away from her now, clenching the top of a stool that sat at their counter. She moved in close to her. "Haley I know you want to go father…"
"Farther!"
"But maybe the reason you're not is because…well because…"
"What?"
"Well because the way you are Haley! There is so much uh…anger in you sometimes!"
Haley turned on her sister, angrily. "Oh gosh you sound like idiot Robert now, Mr. Wannabe Dr. Phil!"
Brooke nodded her head slowly. "Well, maybe that was one actual thing Robert was right about. Babe you told me you took the planner with you on what was meant to be a vacation. You dress like…Haley you're gorgeous…and look at how you dress!"
"Oh shut up…I'm not gorgeous at all!"
"Yes you are!" Brooke touched her sister's face now who moved away from her hand quickly. "Haley you're smart…you're pretty…I mean you have it all if you would just-
"OH shut up I said! You don't know! You don't know Brooke! You're standing there telling me I should be dressing this way or that when it's YOU the guys can't get enough of, couldn't get enough of in high school…can't get enough of now! You know how hard it was to be in your stupid shadow all the time…hearing how hot my sister was all the time?!"
"Haley…" Brooke reached out to hug her now, but Haley pulled away quickly.
"I dress the way I do because I didn't choose a career where I have to be beautiful…all I have to be is smart and how I look shouldn't matter…even that I'm less than pretty or gorgeous or whatever!"
"But Haley you're not less than pretty or gorgeous…you're so much better than all that! And those stupid idiots in high school…most of them were scared of you…you were too smart for them!"
"Oh shut up!"
"Haley-
Haley cut her sister off angrily. "No…look…I'm going to do this stupid interview because I have to, but it won't mean I will like doing it and I'm going to become a big time MSNBC reporter on MY terms…I'll show Bryce…I'll show Robert…I'll show them all!"
Brooke sighed in exasperation as her sister furiously left the room.
"Oh Halo you don't need to show anyone anything…you just need to let go."
/x\
"Okay, so what the heck was that supposed to mean?"
Lucas sighed as his brother followed him to his lab he had retreated to. "What…what was what supposed to mean?"
Nathan scoffed now. "Oh don't give me what! You know what…that stupid comment about you following your obligations and all!"
Lucas sighed. "Well…it was simply the truth…I follow my obligations and you don't!"
Nathan exploded on that. "I don't follow my obligations?! Since when, Luke? I'm out there signing autographs all the time…I work my ass off at basketball, I…I-
"What Nathan?" Lucas turned on his brother viciously now. "What…what else do you do? Visit hospitals? Nope. You gave that up when we moved to Miami!"
"I told you…you know why I gave that up!"
"And that's a stupid cop out Nathan!"
"You know what happened to that kid Luke…you know what happened hours later with that stupid inane-
"But that still shouldn't have stopped you Nathan! There are sick kids in these hospitals Nathan and they worship the ground you walk on…all they ask is to see you and you can't do that for them! Any time we're approached by kids who want an autograph you get all annoyed!"
"Hey, I give them the stupid autographs!"
"Stupid…you hear yourself Nathan? Those kids wanting those stupid autographs is part of the reason why you're so damn famous…why you can afford a place like this! If they stopped wanting them you'd be out of luck Lil Bro! You barely do malls…you barely do any appearances any more Nathan! I remember when you used to actually enjoy them. You'd ask me to go on them with you."
"I asked you to go to Aruba with me!"
"For a screw weekend Nate! That's what it is!"
"At least I have a life! You stay wrapped up here with your stupid rocks!"
"Well rocks may not be that exciting Nathan, but I wouldn't call screwing one woman after another much of a life either. You were bothered by what that woman said…maybe you're starting to not see it as much of a life either. And what about this interview tomorrow, huh? The one you are refusing and yet you don't even have the decency to call them and let them know you can't do it. You're going to put that all on Joanne, right? While you're screwing away in Aruba, you're going to let Joanne do the dirty work for you…who gives a damn about her weekend…as long as you get your screwing vacation that's all that matters!"
"SHUT UP!"
Lucas laughed dryly now. "Hit a sore spot."
"Bastard."
Lucas sighed. His brother's head was down now, his hands tensely holding one of the rocks on the counter. "just because I like to have fun once in a while doesn't mean I'm a cold hearted uncaring ass."
Hearing the vulnerability in his brother's voice Lucas walked over to him now. "Nate…I never said that."
Nathan looked up at Lucas now, his eyes fired with fury and hurt. "But you meant it…right? And you sure as hell came close enough to saying it!"
Lucas sighed once more as his brother threw the rock down on the counter and stormed out of his lab. Damn. Since they had been kids Nathan had always been the one with the fiercer temper, ready to give something up if there was even an inkling it would be hurtful to him.
His eyes on the opened door his brother had just stormed by, Lucas spoke now.
"I just want you to be more responsible Nathan…more careful."
/x\
Restlessness in two people…torturing them…angering them…
A façade of happiness for one…
An unfulfilled existence for the other…
Both wanting to deny…
But fate was about to interfere.
/x\
Next time in Captivated…
"You just never know when sexy underwear will be important."
/x\
"So you're going to do the interview?"
/x\
"Call me and give me the details…"
/x\
"Remember I want to know you're alive!"
~~All this and more to come next time…~~
Thanks for reading…comments always appreciated!