AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANKS FOR COMING BACK TO READ CHAPTER TWO. SOMEONE WAS WONDERING HOW OLD MARLEY IS, SHE'S TEN. YOU'LL FIND THAT OUT AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER, BUT JUST IN CASE YOU WERE DESPERATE I FIGURED I'D CLUE YOU IN RIGHT OFF THE BAT. IF YOU'RE A HUGE HALEY, LUCAS, OR JULIAN FAN YOU MAY HATE ME BY THE END OF THIS CHAPTER. I'M NOT SO KIND IN MY PORTRAYAL OF THEM. I JUST THOUGHT I'D WARN YOU. ANYWAY THANKS AGAIN FOR CHECKING THIS OUT. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH OR ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE FIRST ONE.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: THIS IS AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE STORY. OH AND LAINEY O'CALLAHAN EXISTS IN THIS STORY ALSO BECAUSE I LOVE HER TOO MUCH TO NOT BRING HER ALONG FOR ANOTHER RIDE. MOST OF THE INFORMATION YOU'LL FIND OUT AS YOU READ. DON'T YOU HATE THAT? HAHA.
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ONE TREE HILL, BUT I DO OWN THIS FABULOUS STORYLINE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF CHARACTERS IN IT!
CHAPTER TWO: SAYING GOODBYE
- - -
"When will you be back?" Haley whined as she plopped down on her bed and nibbled on a rice cake. It had been a week since Nathan had rushed back to Tree Hill with that bitch assistant of his Lainey. It had been three since the last time she'd gotten laid. To put it mildly Haley had an itch that desperately needed to be scratched and it was bringing out the worst in her.
Nathan sighed. He knew he should have let the call go to voicemail. The last thing he needed right now was Haley's whining. The funeral was in a couple of hours. Bevin and Brooke took Marley to get her nails done in hopes that it would keep her mind off of everything that was happening while Lainey and Millicent saw to the remaining details down at the church. His job had been to intercept all of the flowers and various condolence gifts that had been arriving since the crack of dawn over the course of the last couple of days. Everyone from artists Peyton had worked with to Jake's clients had been sending their regards. "I told you Hales that I'll be home as soon as I can. There is a lot going on right now. Marley really needs me."
"I just don't understand why I couldn't join you down there. I'd really like to get to know Marley. You don't have to go through all of this alone. I can help shoulder some of the burden."
"Haley…" He started hoping that would keep her from saying anything else. It didn't.
"Lainey got to go with you."
"Lainey is my assistant Haley. She's here with me because of that reason alone. It's not like this is some sort of fucking vacation for me. I'm tired. I'm drained. I've got a million things going on and I feel like I can't even focus. Lainey is here helping me get my head on straight." Nathan fumed. Part of the reason he snapped was that he had so much built up frustration from everything that had happened. The other part had a lot to do with the fact that she was getting on his last fucking nerve. Haley had a lot of good qualities, but she also had a lot of bad ones.
"There's no reason for you to get snippy with me." Haley muttered.
Nathan let out a sigh of relief when he heard someone ring the doorbell. "Listen Hales someone is at the door. I've got to let you go. I'll talk to you later."
"Later as in like tonight or tomorrow?"
"Later as in later. Bye Hales." Nathan hung up his cell phone and opened the door only to find yet another flower delivery man. He sighed as he retrieved the small clipboard the man was holding and scrawled his valuable signature on the bottom line. As he closed the door he couldn't help but wonder just how many flower shops there were in Tree Hill.
- - -
Lainey sighed as she fixed a large portrait of Peyton. It was the last thing they had to do before going back to Peyton and Jake's to change into more appropriate funeral attire. "God was she beautiful." Lainey replied in reference to the glowing picture of Peyton.
"Marley looks just like her. Thank god though she takes more after Jake. Brooke tells horror stories about how moody Peyton was as a teenager." Millicent joked. "I remember the first time I met Peyton I was convinced that Brooke had made them all up, but Peyton confirmed everything Brooke said. She claimed that it was motherhood that made her realize that life really didn't suck nearly as bad as she thought it did, well that and Jake."
Lainey sighed. "I can't even begin to imagine what Brooke, Nathan, and Marley are going to do without them. I know Nathan relied on Jake. After every game Jake was the first person he called. They'd go over every detail."
"I'm sure Haley hated that." Millicent had only met Haley once, but she knew enough to know that Haley didn't like playing second fiddle to anyone especially Brooke Davis.
"Of course she did. You know how she is. Nathan refused to comply with that demand. She sent me the nastiest text message last night demanding to know where Nathan was and why it is that he hadn't called her back."
"And you said?"
"That I wasn't sure why he hadn't called her back, but that he was fine and was presently downstairs watching a movie with Marley and Brooke." Lainey shrugged and smirked.
"She must have loved that." Millicent joked. "Julian is the opposite. He hasn't called once not even to check on her. I sent his assistant an email asking if Julian was aware of what Brooke was going through and that robotic bitch Gloria said that he was and he would call as soon as they finished filming that day. That was two days ago."
Lainey frowned. She didn't know much about Julian other than the fact that Millicent thought very little of him and he was an A-list actor who was known for making predictable, but charming films. "Has she said anything?"
"Of course not and if I were to mention it she'd say she hadn't even noticed because she's just been so busy helping Marley, but that's a crock. She always makes excuses for him. I don't know why." Millicent learned a long time to go to keep her criticisms about Lucas to herself.
"She's such a beautiful girl. I just don't understand it. He's not that amazing. I read a review for his latest film that said it was just like all of the others and cliché."
"Marjorie must have loved that."
"Who's Marjorie?"
"Marjorie is Julian's manager slash ex-girlfriend and the only person on this planet that Brooke may hate just as much as Haley."
"Is that even possible?" Lainey joked.
"It is."
"Wow."
"I know. I can't believe it either." Millicent admitted.
Lainey couldn't fathom that Brooke could muster that much hate for a person other than Haley. "Why does she hate her?"
"Marjorie thinks its okay to constantly try to set Julian up with up and coming actresses that will get him more face time on magazines. It isn't enough for her that Brooke is one of the most recognized fashion designers in the country." Millicent didn't understand Marjorie. More importantly she didn't understand how someone as hot as Julian ever dated Marjorie. She had a sneaking suspicion he dated her so that she would help jump start his career. Once she became his most famous client he dumped her as a girlfriend, but kept her as a manager. "You know I find it so weird that Peyton and Jake had such a healthy marriage and Brooke and Nathan can't seem to find people who are good enough for them."
"They have found people good enough for them they just haven't realized it." Lainey wanted Brooke and Nathan to become a reality more than almost anything.
Millicent smiled. "If only they would see what everyone else can."
"Amen." The first time Lainey ever met Brooke Davis she knew right then and there that she was the girl from Nathan. She was his equal in everything. She was just as successful. She was just as attractive. Most importantly she cared about him. Still Lainey knew that it would take them realizing they belonged together too because if Peyton and Jake hadn't been able to convince them no one would. She looked around the church and then sighed. "It looks like our work is done."
Millicent looked around and then nodded her head in agreement. She linked arms with Lainey and then they made their way out of the church to the black Navigator that brought them there.
- - -
Nathan had been sitting on the couch watching Sportscenter for the third time when the girls finally got home. He instantly recognized the shade of nail polish that Marley had chosen. Usually she picked a blue color called Electric Feel that she claimed made her feel like a rockstar. Today instead she wore a shade of ruby red called Mustang Sally that Nathan recognized as being Peyton's favorite shade. "I like the nail polish you chose Mar."
The young girl glanced down at her nails. "Thanks. Suchin helped me pick it. I'm going to go upstairs and get changed into my dress."
Nathan watched her climb the stairs quietly. It was sad how introverted she had become since they broke the news. Usually she was a ball of energy and all smiles. Now she barely spoke and when she did it was softly and to the point. The last couple of days he found her lying on her bed listening to various mix CDs Peyton had made her while wearing one of Jake's old jerseys. "I hate that this happened to her, but I hate even more that she won't let us in."
"I think she just needs some time is all. Peyton and Jake were such introverts. The only people I think they ever really let in were us and each other." Brooke could name countless times when Peyton pulled away from the world and hid.
"I don't know what I'm going to do when the season starts. I don't know who I'm going to call." Nathan admitted quietly. Few people realized just how much of his success he attributed to his best friend. Jake was his rock. He was his point of reference. He was the person who would tell Nathan when he sucked it up or when he did all he could do. Who would fill that role now that he was gone?
Brooke gently squeezed Nathan's hand. "You can call me. I might not know as much about basketball as Jake did, but you can still call me."
"Thank you." Nathan replied quietly. "And I'm here for you too. I know that Peyton was a huge part of your life and she was your biggest fan. I may not be able to wear most of your clothes, but well Lainey can."
Brooke smiled and started to say that Lainey already does when there was a knock at the door. When Nathan started to stand she motioned for him to sit back down. "You've had to do this all day." She explained before crossing the room and opening the front door. Instead of finding a delivery man standing on the other side holding a vase of flowers she found none other than a disheveled looking Lucas Scott. She clenched her first. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
"I heard about Peyton and Jake. I wanted to offer my condolences." Lucas explained. He wasn't surprised in the slightest by her harsh greeting.
"Your condolences aren't welcome here." Nathan replied suddenly at the door. He hadn't heard what Brooke said, but still he'd seen her visibly stiffen. He placed his hand on Brooke's lower back to steady her.
"Are you serious? Do you know how much of an ass you sound like right now?" Lucas asked in disbelief.
"I'm serious as a heart attack. Now get off this property. You weren't welcome here when Peyton and Jake were still alive and you're not welcome now." Nathan stressed. To make his point he briskly shut the door in Lucas' face. "I'm sorry you had to deal with him Brooke."
"What was he even doing here? Last I checked he was living in Oregon or Washington or something being his usual brooding and self destructive self." Brooke hated that Lucas could still get under her skin that way. It had been a long time since she was the high school sophomore who fell in love with him and allowed him to toy with her emotions while he not so secretly chased after Peyton who obviously had no interest in him. He was convinced that all because of one thought provoking conversation they had about E.E. Cummings they weren't meant to be. The day of her wedding to Jake he showed up and tried to convince her to run away with him. He'd claimed that they could raise the baby together and he would be twice the father Jake was. According to Lucas Jake was just as selfish as Nathan and would leave her high and dry one day. The day of Peyton and Jake's wedding anniversary Lucas sent her a book entitled "The Comet", that basically claimed they were meant to be. It was filled with stories about a supposed love affair they shared in high school that obviously didn't happen. His hope was that it would cause a rift in Peyton and Jake's marriage and he would finally get his chance to swoop in. Alas Jake saw through the lies and the bullshit and their marriage remained intact. Suffice to say Brooke and Nathan along most of the town of Tree Hill reserved a special kind of hatred for Lucas.
Nathan shrugged. "I'll never understand what you saw in him."
Brooke sighed. "Honestly neither do I. I guess I bought in the crack pot belief that there was something special about Lucas. I mean he wasn't like any other guy at Tree Hill. He didn't play basketball, he wrote poetry, and he didn't constantly stare at my boobs."
Nathan had never understood his cousin. Even as children he did whatever he could to get around having to play with Lucas at various Scott family events. How someone who was the child of people as amazing as Keith and Deb could be such a complete asshole was beyond him. "That didn't make him special Brooke that just made him gay. I mean come on what normal red blooded American guy wouldn't enjoy the view that is your chest any chance he got?"
Brooke laughed and rolled her eyes. She could always count on Nathan to pick her up in situations like this. She glanced down at her watch. "I better go upstairs and change before the service."
"You sure you don't want to wear those booty shorts?" Nathan joked.
She flipped him the bird before scurrying upstairs.
- - -
"First I'd like to thank all of you for coming today to help Nathan, Marley, and I honor the memory of Jake and Peyton." Brooke said to the crowd that had packed the church out. The only empty seat in entire church was Brooke's. People lined all the walls. Marley was even sitting on Nathan's lap to make room. "I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't know Peyton. I swear I'm not exaggerating. My earliest memory is from age three and it's of us playing fashion show or should I say it's of me forcing her to play fashion show with me. As many of you know Peyton and I were basically opposites. She was an introvert. I'm an extrovert. She loved dark and twisty music. I preferred to be able to dance and sing along. Suffice to say she was yin to my yang." She took a second to collect herself. She wiped away a stray tear. "Anyway I loved and will always love Peyton Sawyer-Jagielski very much. She was my rock and my inspiration. I miss her and I'll continue to miss her for the rest of my life. Thanks again for coming." Brooke shakily stepped away from the podium and returned to her seat. She accepted the handkerchief that Lainey had pulled out for her. She glanced at the photograph of Peyton and shook her head before looking up to the podium where Nathan stood.
Nathan took a deep breath. He'd never been a fan of public speaking. The current climate only made it harder for him. "In elementary school Jake and I decided that we were brothers. We may not have had the same parents, but we decided that didn't matter. To this day I've always referred to Jake as my brother from another mother. He's also that little voice in the back of my head that scolds me when I make wrong decisions and berates me until I fix them. He'll always be my brother and I'm sure he'll continue to that little voice." He knew it was short, but he didn't think he owed them an explanation about his friendship with Jake.
- - -
Lainey and Millicent watched silently as Nathan, Marley, and Brooke placed baskets full of their favorite things on top of their caskets. It had been Marley's idea. She wanted them to make sure that they had things to enjoy while they were in heaven. They stood there for a few minutes not saying anything before the trio finally turned around and made their way towards them. Marley was in the middle holding each one of their hands. If it weren't for her blonde hair you might have thought that they were a family. "Are you guys ready?" Lainey asked softly.
"Yeah I think we are." Brooke answered. She was drained.
Nobody said a single word as they made their way to the Navigator.
- - -
"Snug as a bug in a rug," Nathan whispered as he tucked Marley into bed later that night. He knew she was a little old for it, but it had always been a part of their tucking in tradition. "I love you Marley."
"I love you too Uncle Nathan." Marley replied groggily. The long day and everything that had happened was catching up with her. "Uncle Nathan?"
"Yeah Marley?"
"What's going to happen to me?" She had been wondering this very question for the last couple of days.
Nathan looked down at the little girl curiously. "What do you mean?"
"I mean am I going to be sent to live in an orphanage or a foster home because I don't have parents anymore?"
"No Marley. I swear that'll never happen. I'm not sure what is going to happen right now, but I promise you'll be taken care of."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
"Okay."
"Night Marley," Nathan whispered quietly before turning off the light and heading down the hall to Brooke's room. He stopped when he saw the light was off and was just about to walk away when he heard her tell him to come in. "How'd you know I was out here?"
"I could hear you and I saw your shadow." Brooke explained as she motioned for him to come sit down. "What's up? Did Marley get to bed okay?"
"Yeah she went to bed just fine. She asked if she was going to have to go live in an orphanage or a foster home now because she didn't have parents anymore Brooke."
"What'd you tell her?"
"That'd she be taken care of."
"Good. That was a good answer." Brooke assured him.
"You should have seen the look on her face Brooke. She was terrified. It was heartbreaking." Nathan admitted.
Brooke hugged him gently. "I can only imagine Nate. You handled the situation really well. I'll have Millicent call Perry in the morning to check and see if Peyton and Jake made any provisions."
"Okay. Well I'll let you get to bed. I'm sorry I disturbed you." Nathan got up off the bed and opened the door. "I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight Brooke."
"Goodnight Nathan." She watched him close the door and wondered how she would have handled the situation had the roles been reversed. It would have never occurred to her that Marley thought she was all alone now. What it must have been like to be ten years old and not sure what was going to happen to you now. Brooke sighed and checked her phone to see if Julian had called before turning off the light and getting back in bed. She wasn't surprised when she saw he hadn't. The last thing she thought of that night was what would they do if Peyton and Jake hadn't made provisions.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANK YOU FOR TUNING BACK IN. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER. IT WASN'T EASY FOR ME TO WRITE. I HOPE IT FELT GENUINE TO YOU. I'M SORRY IF YOU LOVE LUCAS, HALEY, AND/OR JULIAN AND HATED THE WAY I PORTRAYED THEM. I HONESTLY BASICALLY LIKE PEYTON, NATHAN, BROOKE, AND WHEN HE WAS ON THERE JAKE. YOU'LL FIND OUT HOW EXACTLY MARLEY GOT HER NAME AS WELL AS MUCH MORE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN RIGHT NOW. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND REVIEWING AND LETTING ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS. - KRISTINE.
