Hush, Hush
I Will Always Love You
Chapter Three
Nathan walked into the normally comfortable Scott household but today it felt claustrophobic almost for what he was about to tell his wife about their hired nanny help, or lack thereof. Okay, scratch that, Carrie was fabulous to Jamie but she a little too fabulous to Nathan when Haley was either at work or helping Peyton at the studio with Mia. So, knowing that the little run around with Carrie could only get worse, he needed to tell Haley, no matter how scared he was of what Haley would say or do. He knew he had no feelings for Carrie, she was a complete slut, but it still didn't change the fact that his palms were extremely sweaty.
He entered their bedroom and saw Haley sitting in the brown, leather chair by the window reading some papers from her class, most likely grading them. Her hair was up in Chinese chop sticks and she had her sleek black glasses on and she was wearing her baby blue sweat pants and matching jacket that Brooke had made in high school for her 'Hoes over Bros' web site. The suit used to hang a bit loosely then but now since she had given birth to Jamie four years ago the velvet material hugged her in all the right places. Nathan smiled momentarily as Haley stuck the red pen in her mouth and bent over to her book bag and grabbed yet another set of papers to grade. Nathan couldn't help but the grin more at the site of the '23' on her lower back.
"Grading more papers I see," Nathan spoke up and chuckled as Haley almost fell off the couch. "I know I am fine, but please don't hurt yourself too much." Nathan leered.
Haley rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you just startled me." Haley went back to grading her papers but sighed in frustration before throwing the papers on the ground and letting the pen fling across the room to their walk in closet.
"Whoa, what's wrong babe," Nathan got up and sat on the arm rest of the chair and began to massage Haley's shoulders, sensing she was stressed out about work.
Haley immediately relaxed under Nathan's strong hands and let her eyes flutter shut before answering him. "Well, it seems that none of my seniors understand the meaning of rhetorical strategies or how to write an essay on them!"
Nathan continued to massage Haley's shoulders and quirk an eyebrow. "Is it bad that I don't know what rhetorical means and I passed high school?"
"Well, you were okay because your good looks and flawless charm got you through it half decently." Haley looked up into Nathan's eyes lovingly.
"Huh, I thought it was because of this super hot tutor girl I had then I think we dated a couple times before she fell for this flawless charm I've got then we got married." Nathan teased Haley and lightly pinched her side.
"You forgot we had a beautiful son named Jamie," Haley moaned. The way Nathan was touching her so lightly and caring was really turning her on; especially since he had recently gotten out of his 'the world hates me' funk.
"We need to talk," Nathan said as he stopped his hands and went back to the corner of their king sized bed.
"Talk about a buzz kill," Haley moaned as she got up to retrieve her red grading utensil and papers before settling back on the chair.
"I know, sorry," Nathan shrugged, getting anxious to just get this talk over with. "It's about Carrie," Nathan looked at Haley.
"What about her?" Haley asked, still focusing on the papers.
"Well, for starters she is a slut," Nathan immediately clapped his hand to his mouth that is so not what he meant to say. Sure that was the truth and that is how he felt but, not the way to start a conversation. "I mean, she is a little too friendly." Nathan corrected himself.
Haley finally looked up at Nathan at the word 'slut'. "What do you mean? She hasn't been bringing guys in here has she? I told her that wasn't allowed." Haley was a little upset at the thought of Carrie disobeying her specific rules in the men area.
"Um no, I mean, she, I, oh god," Nathan mumbled as he ran his hands over his face.
"Nathan, are you okay?" Haley urged wondering what was causing her husband to freak out.
"Okay, but before I tell you, you have to promise not to yell at me." Nathan stared at her.
"I won't yell at you Nathan, come on just tell me! The wait is killing me!" Haley laughed.
Nathan pushed a nervous smile out hoping she would still have that laugh after he said what he needed to say. "Carrie has been flirting with me, a little too openly around others, like Jamie or Skills when he is over." Nathan cringed as Haley got up and walked out of the room. "Hales, wait up, Hales!" Nathan tried his best to run after her but his injured leg wasn't helping much.
Haley practically flew down the stairs and outside to the pool where she last saw Carrie and Jamie. She was about to fling the back door open when a strong hand caught her. "Hales, stop you can't yell at her in front of James," Nathan whispered and smiled sadly when Haley leaned against him and started to cry. "I am sorry I just thought I should tell you before it got worse or something." Nathan rubbed comforting circles on Haley's back to try and calm her down.
"I let her into our home Nate and this is how she repays me, us?" Haley wiped the tears away and grew angry and embarrassed that she had even cried in the first place. "Unbelievable!" She threw her hands up in the air and walked out to the pool.
She scoffed in disgust as she realized what Carrie was wearing, or what little she was wearing. "Carrie, I need to talk to you for a moment; Jamie you can go in and change and watch some T.V." She patted Jamie's back as he walked over to her and hugged her leg and then proceeded to walk into the house with Nathan.
"You, come here, and I would get close and listen very carefully because I plan on telling you this once." Haley glared at Carrie in her skimpy black bikini and cynically laughed at her confused state. "I want you to pack your things up and get the hell out of my house." Haley icily whispered.
"What the hell?!" Carrie yelled and threw her hands on her hips.
"You heard me, get out." Haley turned around signaling that she was done with this conversation but apparently Carrie had other thoughts when she yanked Haley back around.
"What did I do?" Carrie asked while biting her lip.
"Are you kidding me? You should be asking what you haven't done! I don't think flirting with my husband was in the credentials of being a nanny for us. If I would have thought you would be that stupid I would have mentioned it. I just thought that was a no brainer." Haley snapped and yanked her arm away from Carrie's grasp. "Now, like I said, get out."
"Are you just threatened?" Carrie asked making Haley stopping in her tracks and turn around.
"Oh honey, please! He isn't interested in you! Please, don't flatter yourself too much." Haley rolled her eyes.
"Bitch!" Carrie raised her hand and then connected it to Haley's cheek.
Haley placed her hand on her cheek and winced with pain. Then she glared and looked up at Carrie's smirk and suddenly got angrier. "No I think you are the bitch," Haley slapped Carrie across the face so fast that Carrie didn't even see it coming and it sent her flying into the pool.
Haley rubbed her cheek once more before reentering the house to find Nathan but instead found Skills smiling. "Skills?"
"Hey little mama, that was hot!" Skills walked over to her but then turned serious. "You okay though? Look she is out of the pool again, I can go out there and shove her in there again if you'd like." Skills gave her a reassuring hug letting her know he was dead serious.
"No, that is okay I think I am just going to go up and take a bath just make sure she doesn't do anything stupid," Haley said before walking up the stairs.
"No problem momma," Skills answered.
He smirked as Carrie came in with a bright red hand print on her face. "Ouch," He coughed, "Home wrecker," Then he walked into the living room with Jamie feeling confident that Carrie wouldn't try anything stupid.
"Well I think it's safe to say she's fired." Haley said as she walked into hers and Nathan's bedroom.
"Good," Nathan opened his eyes and held out his arm. Haley smiled and walked over to him and held his hand. Nathan pulled her on top of him, causing Haley to laugh. "Now come here," Nathan kissed her while running his hands up and down her back.
Haley pulled her lips back a little. "How about we go out and celebrate just you and me." Haley smiled and kissed him again.
"That's nice honey but we just fired our help." Nathan laughed when Haley groaned.
"Oh yeah," Haley sat up and then a thought occurred. "How about Skills watches Jamie, Jamie adores him so much. He would like it a lot." Haley suggested as she was slowly rubbing Nathan's lower abdomen.
"If you don't stop that we won't make it to this night of celebration." Nathan growled as he sat up too.
"We can wait a little bit," Haley said and then got up, laughing at Nathan's face. "I am going to go ask Skills if he is free tonight then I will be back. How about you start the shower that way it won't take as long, if you know what I mean…" Haley licked her lips and then seductively walked out their room and down the hall.
Nathan got up and ran into their master bathroom and began the shower and undressed.
It had been a few hours since Nathan and Haley had left for their early dinner and Skills was having a blast with Jamie. So far they had played Guitar Hero 3 for two straight hours and Skills was amazed at how well Jamie was at the game.
"How about we go out for some dinner?" Skills asked as he ended the game and put his controller on the coffee table and stood up, stretching. Skills chuckled when he saw Jamie stand up and do the same.
"That sounds good, but can I pick?" Jamie grinned.
"Aw, man, you always get to pick where we get some grub and it be the same place every time," Skills pretended to be upset.
"Come on, you know you like Incredible Pizza Uncle Skills." Jamie smiled.
"You're right, okay but I get to take you somewhere afterwards, my pick." Skills got down to eye level with Jamie. Jamie nodded his head and put his fist out and Skills bumped fist with him and laughed. "You know you are pretty cool," Skills said as he threw Jamie over his shoulder and walked out of the house.
"So I have been told," Jamie giggled.
Once they walked into Incredible Pizza, Skills told Jamie that he could go play for a little bit before they ate. Jamie, of course, agreed and ran off finding a few friends from school that were there. Skills laughed when Jamie started dancing to the music.
Skills walked over to a booth and sat down. Looking around the restaurant, Skills' eyes opened wide when he saw Mouth and Millicent a few feet over. He got up and walked over.
"So do you normally come here for dinner, or this just like something freaky you two do together?" Skills asked as he plopped down across from the two of them.
Mouth bowed his head in embarrassment. "Oh, Marvin just wanted to go here. I've never been to one of these." Millicent looked around in curiosity.
"That's because it's for little kids," Skills smirked.
Mouth's head shot up and he asked, "Then why are you here?"
Skills sat back in the chair. "Because, Little Jimmy Jam picked this place out for dinner and Nathan and Haley went on some kind of dinner date because they fired Nanny Carrie." Skills explained.
"Why did they fire Nanny Carrie?" Millicent asked. She thought Carrie was kind of nice.
"Who fired Nanny Carrie? And why did they put fire on her?"
All three adults turned to Jamie with wide eyes and shocked expressions.
"You get to ask your daddy that when he comes home tonight All Star." Skills tousled Jamie's hair. "How about we go get some food." Skills stood up.
Jamie nodded his head but then furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are Uncle Mouth and the Mimmicent lady here?" Jamie asked as they were walking towards the buffet line. Skills laughed at how Jamie pronounce Millicent's name.
"Uncle Mouth loves this place a lot." Skills replied before ordering a Dr. Pepper for himself and kid's size Sprite for Jamie and grabbing plates for them both.
"But this is for kids, not grownups." Jamie shot back and scrunched his nose.
"Hey, hey, hey, you should know that your man Skills is here, having a good time, enjoying himself." Skills told Jamie while picking up three pieces of pepperoni pizza.
"Yeah but you're really cool and Uncle Mouth, well, you know, isn't…" Jamie trailed off.
Skills just laughed and continued grabbing food to pile up on his plate. Then, Skills and Jamie returned to the table with Mouth and Millicent.
Skills' phone starting ringing so he answered it loudly since it was quite loud in there. "Superstar speaking," Jamie, Mouth, and Millicent all rolled their eyes because of the song that was playing on his phone when he received the call. "Oh hey Nate, having fun you two? Oh yeah, yeah he is behaving himself perfect." Skills paused then smiled, listening to Nathan on the other end. "Oh sure thing superfly, anything for making up and making lo- alright, alright. See ya dawg." Skills smiled and hung up, look at Jamie.
"Looks like Uncle Skills is staying the night!" Skills push out his chest and then did his secret handshake with Jamie.
"Hey, how about Mouth and I come over too, we could have a W-A-T-E-R-F-I-G-H-T." Millicent spelt out and Skills and Mouth both smiled at that idea, they couldn't wait to initiate Jamie into the Saturday Night Water Fight Galatia.
"I hate it when grownups spell out words," Jamie pouted as he took a sip of his Sprite, causing Skills, Mouth, and Millicent to laugh.
"Where are you taking me Nathan?" Haley asked clearly irritated that Nathan had blind folded her from the restaurant and turns the music on so she could hear anything else.
"I told you already, I am not going to tell you." Nathan laughed as Haley crossed her arms.
"Am I going to like this place?" Haley asked, shaking her leg.
Nathan rolled his eyes but lightly chuckled. "No, you're going to hate it." He said sarcastically. "Of course you're going to like it." He added and then grinned as they reached the destination. "We are here." He announced, getting out of the Range Rover and walked over to Haley's side. He helped her out and then handed the keys to the Valet and whispered to the man that their bags and suitcases were in the back of the car and to bring them up to the presidential suite.
"Nathan Royal Scott, are you planning on taking the thing off of me any time soon?" Haley said loudly.
"Just a couple more minutes' babe," Nathan sighed as he walked them into an elevator and kissed her temple sweetly.
Haley heard a ding noise and figured out that they were in an elevator but that was all she could piece together.
Nathan smiled at Haley, even though she couldn't see him, because he could practically see the wheels turning in her head. Their seventh wedding anniversary wasn't for a couple months but Nathan felt they should skip town for the evening to get away and try and find who they used to be before he got into his accident. Plus, he wanted to reward Haley for being so amazing twenty four seven and still managing to be a great mother and wife and teacher.
Nathan's grin went broader once they reached the top floor and the elevator dinged and opened, Nathan grabbed Haley's left hand in his and wrapped his right arm around her waist as he guided her down the short hall to their door. As he swiped the key card through and it made a small noise Haley's breath hitched and she realized that they were at a hotel, but she didn't say anything.
When they were completely inside and the door latched shut behind them Nathan stood right in front of Haley and slowly untied the scarf from her eyes.
Haley opened her eyes and looked first at Nathan and then looked around and saw that there was at least fifty little tea light candles covering the floor and that it was just a regular hotel room but the Pent House Suite. Once her gaze returned to Nathan he was smiling. "Nathan, what is this for? Our anniversary isn't until a few months."
Nathan shrugged and wrapped his arms around Haley's waist, pulling her against his chest. "This is my thanks. You have been an amazing wife and mother to Jamie and I just wanted to take you away from the craziness and try to be the little teenagers we once were before life got in the way." Nathan smiled as he brushed some hair out of Haley's eyes.
"Oh, Nathan," Haley cried and then pushed herself on her toes and kissed him passionately. "Should we try out the bed?" Haley laughed and then began walking backwards to the master bedroom in the suite seductively.
Nathan gulped and remembered the night of their first honeymoon where Haley walked backwards into their room. She was so gorgeous that Nathan often wondered when he got so lucky. "Defiantly, then we should totally test out the Jacuzzi, then maybe the couches…" Haley yanked him down on top of her before he could finish and began hungrily kissing him.
Brooke was on her way up to one of her apartments in New York to grab some files for the company. It was a small apartment but she mainly used to get away from everything. She reached her floor and opened the old elevator and walked to her door. Unlocking it she felt all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she stepped in and took in the mess that over took her apartment. She knew her head was shouting at her to get the hell out but curiosity got the better of her and she continued to walk in.
There were too many alcohol and beer bottled to count, along with a dozen of pizza boxes and Chinese takeout cups. Then it hit Brooke, Rachel was the only one who knew where this place was and she remembered Rachel used to date the front desk guy. Brooke began to worry again because she knew Rachel was going through some problems.
She had checked every room except hers. She cried out and covered her mouth when she saw who she was positive was Rachel laying face forward on the wooden floor with a red blanket sprawled across her. Brooke ran towards her and moved her onto her back. Brooke started to cry once she saw how blue she was in the face and immediately called 911.
"Yes, oh my god, my friend, she, um she's not breathing, oh my god," Brooke rambled to the voice on the phone.
"Ma'am, you are going to have to give us the address so we can send someone over there, ma'am, please,"
"Um okay, I am at the Burgundy Apartments on 3rd and Broadway, the top floor. I will, um I'll have the door open. Please hurry…" Brooke cried and dropped the phone as she fell to the floor beside Rachel and held her up. "Come on Rach, you gotta make it okay, you have to make it so I can kick your ass for doing this to yourself, come one…Rachel…" Brooke lost and began crying in Rachel's shoulder.
"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but," Lucas got up from the bed and walked over to Peyton who was sitting it the side sofa chair holding on to the box with the ring he planned on asking her to marry him with. He laughed nervously before getting down on one knee and holding her hands in his, along with the ring box. "Peyton, I love you, and I want us to be together forever," Lucas began but was interrupted with Peyton leaning forward and kissing him harshly on the lips.
"Yes," Peyton said not even a centimeter away from his lips.
Lucas chuckled and looked into her eyes. "But you don't know what I am going to ask you," Lucas smiled and kissed her sweetly before leaning his forehead against hers.
"Luke, you are on one knee and I am pretty sure that I am holding a ring box." Peyton smirked which only made Lucas want to kiss her more. But he wanted to get through this because he had spent the whole plane ride out there rehearsing his speech.
"Let me finish okay? I have worked hard on this and it's kind of a big thing." Lucas said as he grabbed the ring box from Peyton's grasped and began rubbing soft circles on her palm with his left hand. Peyton mouthed 'okay'. "I have known you since we were kids. I have loved you, however since, since we were sixteen. You pulled me through everything bad and horrible in my life; you were there whether you knew it or not. You make me want to be better than I am. But, most of all," Lucas took Peyton's hand and held it to his heart. "You complete me."
Peyton blinked back tears of joy and was amazed that his heart was racing.
Then Lucas took Peyton's left hand and rubbed her ring finger lovingly. "Yesterday was a great day, and I was sitting on the bus and I realized that none of my great days in my life matter without you. You're the one I want next to me when my dreams come true; you're the one I want next to me if they don't. As long as I have you, nothing else matters." Lucas opened the box and smiled when Peyton gasped at the ring. "Marry me and make me the happiest man on the earth."
Peyton stared at the ring; it was silver and had a square cut diamond place in the center with two smaller diamonds at its side. She didn't realize she hadn't said anything until Lucas cleared his throat and her head shot up, "Oh, sorry, of course Luke, of course I'll marry you." Peyton smiled and then laughed when Lucas let out a sigh and then locked eyes with hers and began sliding the ring on her ring finger.
When Lucas looked back at Peyton, she had her mouth open but the words that were coming out her mouth didn't make sense. Only beeping noised were coming out. Suddenly the beeping noises got louder and they were hurting his ears so he closed his eyes. However, when he opened them as the beeping stopped he wasn't in the hotel room back in L.A. and Peyton Sawyer was nowhere to be found. He realized that it was all a dream. The fifth dream like this week you would think Lucas would stop believing them to be so real.
As he sat up in his bed from where he must have passed out after basketball practice with the team, he stared straight at his top drawer in his dresser. Sighing, he stood and walked over to the wooden dresser and opened the top drawer, moved some boxers and socks to the side and smiled when he saw the ring box and the few photos of Peyton still in the same spot. He hadn't really given much thought about why he still had those items, he knew he could get a lot of money for the ring, but yet, he didn't do anything about it. It just sat in his sock drawer alone.
He picked up the first photo, his favorite. It was one from when he had taken her out to see Ellie the beginning of their senior year. He was still dating Brooke but would refuse to not be friends with Peyton. Not that Brooke had asked him but sometimes when he brought up Peyton's name in conversation or mentioned something him and Peyton had done together Lucas would notice the wince Brooke's face had momentarily before smiling and saying something like, 'How nice,'. Peyton was smiling, which was rare that year, and her blonde hair wasn't curly and long, but short and straight. The wind had blown some of her bangs to flesh across her forehead and she was wearing his sunglasses and sporting the peace sign to the camera. She looked so happy, and carefree. What happened? Lucas thought. And then he looked at the ring box and went, "Oh, yeah, that." He mumbled before picking it up as well, putting the photo back down. He gently opened it and smiled at how it screamed Peyton. And how he had spent like an hour picking it out and calling Haley every five minutes describing her rings he liked and needed a woman's opinion.
He had been so deep in thought that he didn't hear the front door shut and heels clicking against the old, hard wood flooring throughout the house.
"Whatcha doin?"
Lucas' eyes widened and he froze as he heard Lindsey gasp. Shit, he thought.
Peyton was sitting at her desk and it was around eight thirty at night and she couldn't understand why she was still there. She knew Brooke would be in New York for the night so maybe that's why she didn't want to go home.
Feeling hopeless and tired, Peyton got up and grabbed a few papers and demos and walked out of her office and out to her car. As she got in the car she buckled up and sat her purse in the passenger seat and slightly smiled at the white envelope with 'Lucas E. Scott' artistically and neatly scribbled across in red ink. She then turned the car on and felt her stomach leap at what song blared through the speakers.
"Lucas, what are you doing?" Lindsey asked from her spot on the bed.
Lucas closed his eyes and mentally hit himself for being so careless and then turned around to face Lindsey, having all intentions to tell her that this wasn't what it looked like but when she saw her face and she was smiling so big and her eyes were tearing up his strength disappeared. He looked down at Peyton's ring and then got on one knee and looked up to Lindsey who was now crying.
The two didn't notice that Lucas' alarm randomly went off and what song began playing.
If I Should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go
But I know
I'll think of you every step of
the way
And I...
Will always
Love you, oohh
Will always
Love you
You
My darling you
Peyton let a few tears roll down her face at those words. That's exactly how she felt about Lucas. She loved him so much that she would let him go for him to be happy, even if that meant with 'Big Head Lindsey'. The fact was that she couldn't go back in time and say yes to him no matter how many times she had dreams of doing just that. It was in the past, it was her chance to make it and she broke it along with her heart and Lucas'. This was her fault not Lucas'.
Bittersweet
Memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So good-bye
Please don't cry
We both know I'm not what you
You need
She couldn't believe she was driving to Lucas' house to tell him just that; goodbye. Not that she was leaving Tree Hill; she just got back and didn't want to leave, at least not now. But she wanted to finally just get everything off of her chest and tell Lucas what she meant by not saying yes that night in the hotel.
She wasn't planning on winning him back if he chose to believe her; she just wanted him to know that she did believe in him, a lot. She believed in him much more than in herself.
Peyton listened to the rest of the song, hoping it would calm her nerves since she still had a couple blocks to go before hitting Lucas' neighborhood.
I hope
life treats you kind
And I hope
you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy
and happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
And I...
Will always love you
I...
Will always love you
I, I will always love
You...
You
"Marry me Lindsey?" Lucas simply asked.
"Yes," Lindsey smiled and cried more as Lucas slipped Peyton's ring on her finger.
Darling I love you
I'll always
Peyton frowned as she hit a curve in the road out by the lake, her car was making weird noises and began smoking profusely out through the hood. Peyton decided that she better stop the car to the side of the road and call someone to come and get her; but, when she hit the brakes nothing happened. Hitting the brakes harder this time and still nothing happening, Peyton began to freak out because she was less than fifty feet from a sharp curve with on its left was a downward slope with many tall, thick tree trunks.
I'll always
Love
You…
Oooh
Ooohhh
Lucas and Lindsey were already undressing and touching each other in every spot possible.
"Oh god, I love you so much Lucas," Lindsey moaned as Lucas entered her.
"I love you, too Lindsey," Lucas replied as he gently kissed her.
Peyton was crying as she came up to the curve and her brakes were still not working and she broke through the flimsy metal railing and down the hill. She could see anything because her headlights broke from the crashing through the railings.
She could still hear the radio and the last lines of the song and she screamed as she came up to an Oak tree and crashed dead into the base of the trunk, causing Peyton's upper body to crash against the steering wheel and the driver's side window.
She could see straight and there was an excruciating amount of pain on her side and head, plus everything was blurry and dark, very dark. Then everything went black.
I'll always
Love
You…
Oooh
Ooohhh
The song was "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, of course; plus, its the title of the chapter. Now I know for a fact that you need to tell me something so, review away. It's what makes the world go round. If there are no reviews and the world won't go round then how am I to update ever again? REVIEW PLEASE. Love you allllllll.