A/N - OK so here it is, the sequel to the The Right Decision/The Wrong Decision (which you may want to read if you haven't already done so but you don't have to). It's three years after the wedding. The first chapter is in Nathan's POV and the second is in Brooke's. I think that's how I'm going to do the rest of the story. One chapter from Nathan, one chapter from Brooke but the story will always be continuing. It won't be the same scene told from each of their POV's like the other story if that makes since. The chapters are kind of short but once I get further along in the story I'm sure they'll get longer. Anyway, please let me know what you think and if you want me to continue because once I started writing all of these ideas started to flow so I really want to hear what you all thinks. Thanks!
XO
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I'm sitting in my living room staring at the glass of scotch in my hand, trying to wrap my head around the bomb that Lucas just dropped on me. Brooke Davis was coming home. After three years, a handful of letters and a few brief phone calls to Haley and Peyton, Brooke, my Brooke, was coming home. I can hear Haley in the kitchen singing quietly to herself as she cleans up the dinner dishes. She's happy with the news of course and why wouldn't she be? She hasn't seen her best friend in years - not since she disappeared shortly after the wedding, claiming she needed a change. It was Brooke's way of removing any temptation, solidifying my marriage to Haley permanently. In her mind, she was ensuring our happiness and she was right for the most part. I glance up as Haley enters the room and begins collecting coffee mugs left over from Lucas and Peyton's visit. The last three years with Haley have been great, amazing even. We've even been talking about trying for kids and yet I can't stop my heart from racing at the thought of seeing Brooke again. Will there ever be a time when I'm not affected by her?
"I'm so happy Brooke is coming home!" Haley's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "I can't believe that she's been gone for three years and in less then a week she'll be back in Tree Hill." I smile at Haley's enthusiasm. I wish that I could share in it but my head is still spinning. It was easy when Brooke wasn't around. It was easy to forget how beautiful she was; how she felt in my arms; the way her body fit mine perfectly when we made love… well maybe forget isn't the right word because that's not something I'll ever forget. But it was easy not to think about her as much where she wasn't around. What do I do now when I have to see her every day? The carefully placed walls that I've built around my feelings for Brooke Davis are already starting to crack and she's not even here yet. What happens when I see her? Shit! Haley's still talking and I haven't heard a word. I have to get out of here. I need air. I need to breathe. I need to compose myself before Haley starts asking me what's wrong. I can see the question starting to form in her eyes and I quickly stand, plastering a smile on my face.
"It's great Brooke's coming home." My voice comes out more than a little stiff. How the hell did I keep an affair with her best friend a secret for eight months? My lying skills seem to have dulled in the last three years - and apparently in my warped mind the inability to lie convincingly to my wife is a bad thing. Nice. I really need to get out of here. "I'm going to go for a quick run before it gets too late." It amuses me slightly that I immediately fall back to the excuse I used every time I wanted to spend a few hours with Brooke. God I really disgust myself sometimes. I change into my running clothes and quickly kiss Haley's cheek before stepping out into the cool North Carolina air. I slip my I-pod on and slowly start to run. I know exactly where I'm going and don't stop until I hit the beach. I pull the ear buds from my ear as I walk across the sand and slowly sit down, staring out at the water. This is where it all began. This very spot is where I started to fall in love with Brooke Davis.
3 years earlier
"Davis, get out of the water. It's fucking freezing! You're going to get pneumonia or something!" I call to Brooke, who at the moment is splashing happily in the ocean in nothing but her bra and boy shorts. She is seriously going to get hypothermia, I'm sure of it. "Brooke!" I call again and she finally looks at me, rolls her eyes and starts back toward me with water dripping off her perfect body. My eyes wander to her chest and I quickly look away. Jesus! What the hell am I doing? It must have been that last shot we did at Tric because I am definitely buzzing. I look back at Brooke. She has to be feeling something because she matched me shot for shot and she's pretty tiny. "Brooke, what the hell are we doing here?" I shrug my jacket off with a little difficulty and wrap it around her now slightly shivering form.
"God, Nate, you're such a spoil sport." She murmurs and her breath tickles my neck as I pull her into my arms in an attempt to warm her up a bit. "But if you must know…" She pulls away, sways slightly on her feet, and finally lets her self fall easily onto the sand, patting the ground next to her. "You're soon to be wife asked me to keep an eye on you while she was out of town because we both know how hopeless you are when left to your own devices." She laughs her husky laugh.
"Oh, I see how it is." I shake my head and sit next to her. She smells really good. Focus Nathan, Christ! "So, that whole 'Come on, Nate, we haven't hung out in so long' was all a lie." I elbow her side and try not to think about the fact that she is sitting next to me in nothing but her underwear and my jacket. "Thanks, Davis, good to know where I stand with you." She laughs again and I feel a little light headed. Hmmm… I really shouldn't have had that lost shot.
"Oh, Natey, I'm sorry." Her arms are around me before I know what's happening. God she has soft skin. "You know you're my favourite Scott." She smiles angelically at me. "At least until Haley becomes one." She laughs again.
"Laugh it up Davis!" I send her a playful glare.
"Well, I was still Mrs. Nathan Scott first so I'll always be the best Scott." She looks at me with a playful gleam in her eyes and through the haze that is my brain it takes a minute for it to sink in.
"That's right! 2nd grade, we got married in my parents' back yard." I let out a low chuckle. "I'd forgotten all about that."
"Yup!" Brooke grins, her dimples on full display and I'm distracted for a second at the sight of them. "So, there you were mine first, and Haley James-soon-to-be-Scott better not forget it." She laughs that husky laugh again and I join her, wrapping my arm around her. Somewhere in the midst of it all we end up lying down with her head resting on my chest and my fingers running gently through her wet hair. My brain is telling me to stop this right now. It is so not appropriate to be like this with my fiancé's best friend, but the alcohol and uncomfortable stirring in my gut won't let me move. Brooke shifts her body weight and her breasts brush against my chest. That's when it happens. I pray she doesn't feel it but a second later she lifts her head and looks up at me before looking down again. That's it I'm so busted. She's going to kill me. I can't even look at her. Any second now she's going to jump up disgusted and tell me right where to go. But she's not moving. I slowly look at her and her green eyes are clouded with obvious arousal. My body moves of its own free will and the next thing I know I've rolled us over so Brooke's soft body us under mine. What the hell am I doing? I need to stop this right now but as I search Brooke's eyes for any kind of doubt, I find none and I something inside of me lets go. I capture her lips, our tongues battle for dominance. My hands roam her body as she clenches my back and pulls me closer, sending us both over the edge.
It was only supposed to be that one time. The next morning we woke up and Brooke was devastated, disgusted with herself. We agreed to never speak of it again. It was like it never happened until I saw her with Owen at Tric and showed up at her door at 3 a.m. like a jealous boyfriend. She fought me ever step of the way but I kept on pursuing her. The whole thing was my fault. If I had let her go nothing ever would have happened. But the first time I heard that raspy voice say 'I love you', I knew it was worth it. Whatever happened, loving Brooke Davis was worth it. A car door slamming in the distance brings me back to reality and I glance at my watch with a sigh. I've been gone almost two hours and Haley is probably starting to worry. I pull myself to my feet and stare at the water for another few moments. I turn to leave and freeze when I see her standing behind me.
"Brooke?" I feel like I'm staring at a ghost. She's exactly as I remember her and still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. There are tears in her eyes as she gives me a tentative smile.
"Hi Nathan." My eyes close involuntarily. Her voice is like music to my ears. There is nothing sweeter than the sound of my name on Brooke Davis' lips.
"Brooke…" I whisper a little shakily and take a hesitant step towards her. She drops her head and her eyes drift shut for just a second, as though she's final lost the inner battle she's been having with herself. The tears she's been holding back suddenly burst and the next thing I know she's throwing her arms around my neck. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding as I wrap my arms around her and suddenly my world makes sense again.